Varaha Purana 138.65 — Adhyaya 138, Shloka 65

The Episode of the Khañjarīṭa Bird

and the Saukarava Tīrtha’s Merit

Devanagari script

तडागानि प्रसन्नानि कुमुदोत्पलवन्ति च॥ पद्मषण्डैः सुरम्याणि पुष्पितानि समन्ततः

Transliteration

taḍāgāni prasannāni kumudotpalavanti ca || padmaṣaṇḍaiḥ suramyāṇi puṣpitāni samantataḥ

Translation

तडागानि प्रसन्नानि कुमुदोत्पलवन्ति च। पद्मषण्डैः सुरम्याणि पुष्पितानि समन्ततः॥

Word by Word

• तडागानि: ponds/tanks
• तडागानि: कर्ता/वर्ण्य (Nominative topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तडाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• प्रसन्नानि: clear/pleasant
• प्रसन्नानि: विशेषण (Adjectival to subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रसन्न (प्रातिपदिक; √सद्/सद्-प्रसादे → ‘प्रसन्न’ adjectival)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; ‘तडागानि’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• कुमुदोत्पलवन्ति: having kumuda and utpala lotuses
• कुमुदोत्पलवन्ति: विशेषण (Adjectival to subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुमुद-उत्पल-वत् (प्रातिपदिक; कुमुद + उत्पल + वत्)
• Form: समासः: कुमुदं च उत्पलं च (द्वन्द्व) → कुमुदोत्पल; ततः ‘कुमुदोत्पलवत्’ (मतुप्/वत्-प्रत्ययान्त) । नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषणम्

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय

• पद्मषण्डैः: by/with clusters of lotuses
• पद्मषण्डैः: करण (Karana/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्म-षण्ड (प्रातिपदिक; पद्म + षण्ड)
• Form: समासः: पद्मानां षण्डाः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष) । पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन

• सुरम्याणि: very beautiful
• सुरम्याणि: विशेषण (Adjectival to subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु-रम्य (प्रातिपदिक; सु + रम्य)
• Form: समासः: सु + रम्य (उपसर्गपूर्वक-कर्मधारय) । नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषणम्

• पुष्पितानि: in bloom/flowering
• पुष्पितानि: विशेषण (Adjectival to subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुष्पित (प्रातिपदिक; √पुष्प् → पुष्पित, क्त/PPP)
• Form: क्त (PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषणम्

• समन्ततः: on all sides
• समन्ततः: अधिकरण/क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: समन्ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: परितोऽर्थक-अव्यय (adverb: ‘on all sides’)

Speaker

Varāha (default frame; speaker not explicit in fragment)

Varaha Avatara Context

Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":false,"aspect_highlighted":"None","boar_form_detail":"None","earth_interaction":"None"}

Bhu Devi Dialogue

Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":false,"speaker_role":"instructor","bhu_devi_state":"None","key_question":"None"}

Mathura Mandala

Mathura Mandala: {"is_mathura_related":false,"specific_site":"None","parikrama_context":"None","krishna_connection":"None"}

Dharma Shastra

Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":false,"topic":"None","instruction_summary":"None","karmic_consequence":"None"}

Vrata Mahatmya

Vrata Mahatmya: {"has_vrata":false,"vrata_name":"None","tithi_month":"None","promised_fruit":"None"}

Cosmic Boar Symbolism

Cosmic Boar Symbolism: {"has_symbolism":false,"symbolic_interpretation":"None","yajna_varaha_imagery":"None","vedantic_connection":"None"}

Philosophical Teaching

Philosophical Teaching: {"has_teaching":true,"teaching_type":"symbolic-aesthetics (purity and clarity)","core_concept":"Prasannatā (clarity) of water parallels prasannatā of mind; lotus blooming suggests dharmic flourishing in a well-ordered realm.","practical_application":"Seek ‘clear-pond’ conditions for the mind: reduce turbidity (rajas/tamas) through restraint, cleanliness, and steady practice; honor and maintain water bodies."}

Subject Matter

Subject Matter: ["Ecology","Hydrology","Landscape description"]

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: taḍāga (ponds/lakes)

Cross References

Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa 138 (hydrology/landscape sequence)

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A series of crystal-clear ponds carpeted with white kumuda and blue utpala, with dense clusters of pink padma blooming all around; reflections of sky and trees shimmer on the surface.","item_prompts":["clear pond water with reflections","white kumuda blossoms","blue utpala blossoms","pink padma clusters","bees hovering","gentle ripples"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: ornamental lotus patterns filling the pond, high-contrast blues/greens, stylized bees; symmetrical, temple-wall compositional rhythm.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: lotus clusters with gold embossing on petals; water rendered with deep blue and gilded highlights; jewel-like saturation.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: naturalistic lotus anatomy, subtle gradients in petals, transparent water effect; calm, balanced framing.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari: delicate lotus pond with fine linework, soft pastel blossoms, minimal ripples; poetic spaciousness around the water."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"serene, contemplative","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani (bright purity) or Madhyamavati","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"clear, even, with gentle elongation on kumuda-utpala-padma."}

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Ecological Imagery
• Ancient Water Heritage
• Sanskrit Poetics

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

References to taḍāgas (ponds/tanks) align with South Asian water-management heritage; such descriptions help contextualize the cultural value placed on maintained water bodies.

Which geographic location is identified?

No named site is given; the verse describes an idealized watery landscape.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

By praising clear, flourishing ponds, the text indirectly supports the value of maintaining water bodies—an ecological and civic virtue in many Sanskrit traditions.