Varaha Purana 73.15 — Adhyaya 73, Shloka 15

Rudra’s Hymn: Vision of Nārāyaṇa, the Emergence of the Ādityas, and the Mutual Boon of Hari and Hara

Devanagari script

ब्रह्माणं तत्र पश्यामि आत्मानं च तदङ्कतः । एवं दृष्ट्वा महात्मानं ततो हर्षमुपागतः । तं स्तोतुं द्विजशार्दूल मतिर्मे समजायत ॥ ७३.१५ ॥

Transliteration

brahmāṇaṁ tatra paśyāmi ātmānaṁ ca tadaṅkataḥ | evaṁ dṛṣṭvā mahātmānaṁ tato harṣam upāgataḥ | taṁ stotuṁ dvijaśārdūla matir me samajāyata || 73.15 ||

Translation

तत्राहं ब्रह्माणं पश्यामि, आत्मानं च तदङ्कस्थितम्। एवं महात्मानं दृष्ट्वा हर्षेणाभिभूतः; हे द्विजशार्दूल, तं स्तोतुं मे मति: समजायत॥

Word by Word

• brahmāṇam: Brahmā (the creator figure)

• tatra: there

• paśyāmi: I see/behold

• ātmānam: myself

• ca: and

• tadaṅkataḥ: from/on his lap (aṅka)

• evaṁ: thus

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen

• mahātmānam: the great-souled one

• tataḥ: then/thereupon

• harṣam: joy/delight

• upāgataḥ: attained/overcome by

• tam: him

• stotum: to praise

• dvijaśārdūla: O best of the twice-born (address to a learned Brahmin)

• matiḥ: thought/intention

• me: my

• samajāyata: arose/was born

Speaker

Varāha (default per dialogue framework; speaker not explicit in excerpt)

Varaha Avatara Context

Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":true,"aspect_highlighted":"dialogue","boar_form_detail":"None","earth_interaction":"Indirect: Varāha narrates a visionary encounter (darśana) relevant to cosmic order that undergirds Bhūmi’s stability; no direct physical contact described."}

Bhu Devi Dialogue

Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":true,"speaker_role":"instructor","bhu_devi_state":"curious/attentive (listener implied within Varāha–Bhūmi framework)","key_question":"Implicit: how divine vision (darśana) and praise (stuti) arise and what their salvific/cosmic significance is."}

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":true,"symbolic_interpretation":"The lap-seating image encodes hierarchical yet non-dual cosmology: the ‘self’ (jīva/avatāra-persona) is upheld by the cosmic progenitor (Brahmā) who is himself upheld by the Supreme; joy (harṣa) marks recognition of ontic dependence and divine order.","yajna_varaha_imagery":"None (no explicit yajña-limb mapping here; symbolism is via darśana and cosmic seating).","vedantic_connection":"Hints at bhedābheda/viśiṣṭādvaita-style dependence: the individual self experiences itself as supported within the cosmic body; stuti arises from pratyakṣa-darśana leading to bhakti."}

Philosophical Teaching

Philosophical Teaching: {"has_teaching":true,"teaching_type":"bhakti-epistemology (darśana → stuti)","core_concept":"Direct vision of the divine/cosmic principle naturally culminates in praise; joy is a sign of alignment with dharma and truth.","practical_application":"Cultivate smṛti and contemplation of the divine order; let insight mature into stotra, gratitude, and disciplined devotion."}

Subject Matter

Subject Matter: ["Sacred Geography","Pilgrimage Culture","Devotional Poetics","Cosmology"]

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: śānta

Geographic Context

Type: cosmic/visionary locus

Cross References

Related Themes: 73.73.16-19 (stotra begins/continues)

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A visionary tableau: Brahmā enthroned, with the narrator-self seen seated upon Brahmā’s lap; the seer’s face lit with joy as the intention to praise arises.","item_prompts":["Brahmā with four faces (iconic)","lap-seated smaller figure (the narrator-self)","aura/halo indicating darśana","gesture of reverence forming (añjali)","cosmic backdrop (lotus, stars)"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, saturated reds/ochres, Brahmā four-faced on lotus-throne, smaller lap-seated figure, expressive eyes, flat decorative cosmos motifs.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style with gold-leaf haloing Brahmā, embossed lotus throne, jewel tones, smaller figure on lap, ornate arch framing cosmic scene.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, delicate linework, soft shading, refined facial expressions of harṣa, subtle cosmic background with lotus symbolism.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style, lyrical landscape-cosmos blend, Brahmā on lotus, intimate lap-seating, gentle colors, emphasis on devotional mood."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"wonder-filled and reverent","suggested_raga":"Vasantā (or Lalit for dawn-like awe)","pace":"medium-slow","voice_tone":"soft, luminous, building toward stotra-intonation"}

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Purāṇic Narrative
• Vaiṣṇavism
• Sanskrit Philology

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It preserves a Purāṇic narrative motif in which a speaker reports a visionary encounter with major cosmological figures (here, Brahmā), reflecting the text’s didactic style that blends sacred geography with exemplary experiences.

Which geographic location is identified?

The verse itself does not name a specific site; in chapter-level context it is likely situated within a Prayāga-related narrative, but the location cannot be asserted from this single śloka alone.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

The verse foregrounds a philosophical instruction of cultivated reverence: upon encountering perceived greatness (mahātmā), one responds with disciplined appreciation and the intention to offer praise rather than possessiveness or disregard.