Varaha Purana 147.9 — Adhyaya 147, Shloka 9

The Sacred Merit of Goniṣkramaṇa

the Tīrtha of the Cows’ Emergence/Release

Devanagari script

ईश्वरोऽपि महाभागे तत्पार्श्वं समुपागतः ॥ गोनिष्क्रमेतिविख्याते तस्मिंस्तीर्थे महौजसि

Transliteration

īśvaro 'pi mahābhāge tat-pārśvaṁ samupāgataḥ || goniṣkrameti vikhyāte tasmiṁs tīrthe mahaujasi

Translation

ईश्वरोऽपि, महाभाग, तस्य पार्श्वं समुपागतः; गोनिष्क्रम इति विख्याते महौजसि तस्मिंस्तीर्थे।

Word by Word

• īśvaraḥ: the Lord
• īśvaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-कारक-अव्यय

• mahābhāge: O greatly fortunate one
• mahābhāge: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā-bhāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (महान् भागः यस्य) as vocative epithet

• tat-pārśvam: to his side/near him
• tat-pārśvam: Karma (कर्म/object of samupāgataḥ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad + pārśva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (तस्य पार्श्वम्)

• samupāgataḥ: arrived/came
• samupāgataḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया; participial predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-upa-ā-gam (धातु: गम्) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृत् (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्रियार्थे ‘has come/arrived’

• go-niṣkrama-iti: ‘Go-niṣkrama’ (so called)
• go-niṣkrama-iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: go + niṣkrama (प्रातिपदिक) + iti (अव्यय)
• Form: इति-समाप्त्यर्थक-अव्यय; नामनिर्देश (quotative: ‘called …’)

• vikhyāte: renowned/known as
• vikhyāte: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-khyāta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; वि+ख्या धातु, क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying tīrthe)

• tasmin: in that
• tasmin: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• tīrthe: at the sacred ford/place of pilgrimage
• tīrthe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tīrtha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• mahaujasi: of great power/splendour
• mahaujasi: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā-ojas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying tīrthe)

Speaker

Varāha

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":true,"speaker_role":"instructor","bhu_devi_state":"curious, receptive","key_question":"None (identification of the tīrtha and divine approach)"}

Mathura Mandala

Mathura Mandala: {"is_mathura_related":false,"specific_site":"Goniṣkrama (tīrtha)","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":"tīrtha and grace (anugraha)","core_concept":"Sacred geography is intensified by the meeting of tapas (human effort) and īśvara-sannidhi (divine presence).","practical_application":"Approach tīrthas with humility and inner discipline; treat holy sites as occasions for self-restraint and devotion, not mere tourism."}

Subject Matter

Subject Matter: ["Heritage Sites","Cosmology","Geography"]

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: śānta

Geographic Context

Type: tīrtha (pilgrimage site) near/at a mountain-ascetic setting

Cross References

Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa 147.8 (tapas on the mountain); Varāha Purāṇa 147.11–13 (assembly; Rudra’s radiance; destruction)

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Īśvara (Maheśvara) arrives at the side of the ascetic at the powerful tīrtha called Goniṣkrama; the place feels charged and luminous.","item_prompts":["Śiva/Īśvara with matted hair and crescent moon","trident (triśūla) and damaru (optional)","ascetic seated near water/ford marker","tīrtha signage motif: cows/hoofprints hinting ‘go’ in Goniṣkrama","aura/light around the site"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Śiva in classic Kerala mural iconography with calm yet potent presence; stylized water-edge tīrtha; rich reds/ochres.","tanjore_prompt":"Śiva with gold-leaf ornaments and halo; tīrtha rendered as decorative lotus-water; ascetic smaller at his side.","mysore_prompt":"Refined facial expressions; gentle glow around Śiva; detailed flora around the tīrtha boundary.","pahari_prompt":"Pastoral hints (cows/paths) near a clear stream; Śiva’s figure elegant and slightly elongated; cool landscape tones."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"awe-tinged narration","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"clear, slightly intensified on ‘Goniṣkrameti’ and ‘mahaujasi’"}

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Sacred Geography
• Purāṇic Theophany
• Cultural Heritage

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It identifies Goniṣkrama explicitly as a tīrtha, supporting the Purāṇic function of mapping pilgrimage and culturally valued locations.

Which geographic location is identified?

Goniṣkrama tīrtha is named; modern identification remains uncertain without additional regional descriptors.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

The verse implies that disciplined practice and sacred places are contexts for encounter and learning, rather than transactional reward-seeking.