Varaha Purana 13.3 — Adhyaya 13, Shloka 3
The Genealogy of the Pitṛs and the Determination of Śrāddha Times
श्रीवराह उवाच । निमिषेण कृतं कर्म दृष्ट्वा भगवतो मुनिः । आरिराधयिषुर्देवं तमेव प्रययौ वनम् । प्रभासं नाम सोमस्य तीर्थं परमदुर्लभम् ॥ १३.३ ॥
śrīvarāha uvāca | nimiṣeṇa kṛtaṃ karma dṛṣṭvā bhagavato muniḥ | ārirādhayiṣur devaṃ tam eva prayayau vanam | prabhāsaṃ nāma somasya tīrthaṃ paramadurlabham || 13.3 ||
श्रीवराह उवाच—निमिषमात्रेण कृतं कर्म दृष्ट्वा भगवतो मुनिः। तमेव देवं आरिराधयिषुः स वनं प्रययौ, सोमस्य प्रभासाख्यं परमदुर्लभं तीर्थम्॥
Varāha
Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":true,"aspect_highlighted":"None","boar_form_detail":"None","earth_interaction":"None"}
Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":false,"speaker_role":"instructor","bhu_devi_state":"None","key_question":"None"}
Mathura Mandala: {"is_mathura_related":false,"specific_site":"Prabhāsa (Soma-tīrtha)","parikrama_context":"None","krishna_connection":"None"}
Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":false,"topic":"None","instruction_summary":"None","karmic_consequence":"None"}
Vrata Mahatmya: {"has_vrata":false,"vrata_name":"None","tithi_month":"None","promised_fruit":"None"}
Cosmic Boar Symbolism: {"has_symbolism":false,"symbolic_interpretation":"None","yajna_varaha_imagery":"None","vedantic_connection":"None"}
Philosophical Teaching: {"has_teaching":true,"teaching_type":"bhakti-yoga / tīrtha-śraddhā","core_concept":"Perceiving divine immediacy (swift fruition) intensifies devotion and redirects the devotee toward sacred space and worship.","practical_application":"When grace or an extraordinary result is witnessed, respond with disciplined worship and pilgrimage rather than mere amazement."}
Subject Matter: ["Heritage Sites","Geography","Pilgrimage Culture","Narrative Theology (descriptive)"]
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: śānta
Type: tīrtha (sacred ford)
Related Themes: 13.13.4-7 (continuation: deity at the tīrtha, worship, arrival of Mārkaṇḍeya, ensuing inquiry)
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A venerable sage, stirred by a miracle accomplished in an instant, departs into a forest path toward the rare Soma-tīrtha named Prabhāsa.","item_prompts":["forest track (vana-mārga)","sage with kamaṇḍalu and staff","distant tīrtha waters with a luminous ‘prabhā’ aura","subtle Soma iconography (crescent/moon motif)"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: serene forest greens, a dignified muni in saffron, Prabhāsa waters glowing with moonlike radiance; ornamental foliage borders.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style: central sage in relief-like posture, gold-leaf haloed glow over the tīrtha, stylized water patterns, crescent-moon Soma emblem.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style: delicate linework, soft shading on the muni’s face, atmospheric forest depth, gentle luminescence over the tīrtha.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari style: lyrical hillside-forest landscape, small figure of the sage walking, bright reflective water patch labeled by mood as Prabhāsa, minimal Soma crescent in sky."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"wonder-tinged pilgrimage narration","suggested_raga":"Madhyamāvati","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"clear, reverent, lightly awed"}
FAQs
It exemplifies the Purāṇic tīrtha tradition: narrative movement from witnessing an extraordinary act to undertaking travel toward a named pilgrimage site, preserving cultural memory of sacred geographies such as Prabhāsa.
Prabhāsa (प्रभास), described as a tīrtha of Soma. In historical-geographical scholarship, Prabhāsa is commonly associated with the Prabhāsa region near Somanātha (modern Verāval area, Gujarat), though identifications can vary by text and period.
A philosophical instruction is the emphasis on intentionality and disciplined response: after recognizing an extraordinary event, the sage chooses purposeful action—seeking alignment through worship and a journey to a culturally recognized heritage site (tīrtha).
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