Varaha Purana 136.37: Adhyaya 136, Shloka 37

A Sūtra-like Manual of Expiations for Ritual Transgressions

Uttara Bhāga · Śiva–Viṣṇu Saṃvāda (Pāpa-śodhana / Tripura-vadha-anantara)

Devanagari script

कीदृशः समलो विष्णो यत्र गच्छामहे वयम् ॥ ततस्तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा शङ्करस्य महेश्वरि

Recitation with translationVaraha Purana 136.37

Transliteration

kīdṛśaḥ samalo viṣṇo yatra gacchāmahe vayam || tatas tasya vacaḥ śrutvā śaṅkarasya maheśvari

ITRANS transliteration

Translation

‘హే విష్ణూ, మేము వెళ్లవలసిన అపవిత్ర స్థలం ఏ విధమైనది?’ అప్పుడు శంకరుని మాటలు విని, హే మహేశ్వరీ…

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Word by Word

• kīdṛśaḥ: what kind/what sort

• samalaḥ: impure/defiled

• viṣṇo: O Viṣṇu

• yatra: where/to which

• gacchāmahe: we go/are to go

• vayam: we

• tataḥ: then

• tasya: his

• vacaḥ: words

• śrutvā: having heard

• śaṅkarasya: of Śaṅkara

• maheśvari: O Maheśvarī

Speaker and setting

Shanta and Adbhuta rasaSetting: Liminal/ritual space

Speaker

Śiva (first hemistich as a question) + Narrator (second hemistich) (inferred)

Bhu Devi and Varaha

In this verse

She asks

What she asks

What exactly is the ‘samala’ (impure) place to which we are to go?

The teaching

Kind of teaching

Epistemic discipline in dharma

Subjects

Dialogue progressionConcept of impurity (mala)Narrative address to Maheśvarī

Core idea

Dharma/prāyaścitta requires clarity (viveka) about terms like mala and about prescribed contexts; sincerity includes careful questioning.

In practice

Before undertaking remedial rites, ask for exact definitions, place, and method; avoid vague or improvised ‘purifications’.

Dharma

Cross references

Tags

• Purāṇic Dialogue
• Sanskrit Narrative Style
• Ritual Purity Concepts
• Philological Indexing

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It highlights how Purāṇic texts structure instruction through question-and-answer, embedding ritual purity discourse within narrative dialogue.

Which geographic location is identified?

No named site is given in this verse; it anticipates a description in the subsequent passage.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

Clarification before action: the question frames responsible practice by seeking precise understanding of the prescribed remedy.