Varaha Purana 145.65 — Adhyaya 145, Shloka 65

The Greatness of the Śālagrāma Sacred Region

Devanagari script

गन्धर्वेति च विख्यातं तस्मिन् क्षेत्रं परं मम ॥ एकधारा पतत्यत्र पश्चिमां दिशमाश्रिता ॥

Transliteration

gandharveti ca vikhyātaṃ tasmin kṣetraṃ paraṃ mama | ekadhārā pataty atra paścimāṃ diśam āśritā ||

Translation

ఆ స్థలంలో నా పరమ క్షేత్రం ‘గంధర్వ’ అని ప్రసిద్ధి; అక్కడ ఒకే ధార పశ్చిమ దిశను ఆశ్రయించి పడుతుంది.

Word by Word

• gandharva-iti: “Gandharva” thus
• gandharva-iti: Quotation marker (इति-निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: gandharva (प्रातिपदिक) + iti (अव्यय)
• Form: ‘इति’ इत्युक्ति-निपात; उद्धरण/नामनिर्देश (thus called)

• ca: and
• ca: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction)

• vikhyātam: well-known
• vikhyātam: Karta/Predicate (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-khyā (ख्या धातु) → vikhyāta (क्त; कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; ‘क्षेत्रम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• tasmin: in that
• tasmin: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• kṣetram: field / sacred place
• kṣetram: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣetra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• param: supreme
• param: Karta/Predicate (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• mama: my
• mama: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन

• ekadhārā: a single stream
• ekadhārā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक) + dhārā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—एका धारा (कर्मधारय)

• patati: falls / flows
• patati: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pat (पत् धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• atra: here
• atra: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण

• paścimām: western
• paścimām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: paścima (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘दिशम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• diśam: direction
• diśam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: diś (दिश् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• āśritā: having taken refuge in / directed toward
• āśritā: Karta/Predicate (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā-śri (श्रि धातु) → āśrita (क्त; कृदन्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; ‘एकधारा’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

Speaker

Varāha

Varaha Avatara Context

Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":true}

Bhu Devi Dialogue

Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":true,"speaker_role":"instructor","bhu_devi_state":"curious","key_question":"What is the name/renown of this supreme kṣetra, and what are its hydrological signs (the single westward-falling stream)?"}

Mathura Mandala

Mathura Mandala: {"is_mathura_related":false}

Dharma Shastra

Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":false}

Vrata Mahatmya

Vrata Mahatmya: {"has_vrata":false}

Cosmic Boar Symbolism

Cosmic Boar Symbolism: {"has_symbolism":false}

Philosophical Teaching

Philosophical Teaching: {"has_teaching":true,"teaching_type":"place-theology (nāma-rūpa as sacred markers)","core_concept":"Sacredness is communicated through name (khyāti) and form (a unique stream), making geography a bearer of divine identity.","practical_application":"In pilgrimage, attend to traditional names and markers; let recognition of tīrtha-signs cultivate recollection (smaraṇa) of the deity rather than mere sightseeing."}

Subject Matter

Subject Matter: ["Geography","Heritage Sites","Hydrology (as described in text)"]

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: śānta

Geographic Context

Type: mythic sacred landscape / hydrological landmark

Cross References

Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa 145.69 (Puṇyanadī in the secret region); Varāha Purāṇa 145.73 (snāna and four-night stay)

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A hidden sacred region called Gandharva-kṣetra is shown with a distinctive single stream cascading toward the west, suggesting a secret, recognizable tīrtha-sign.","item_prompts":["single waterfall/stream (ekadhārā)","westward orientation cue (setting sun / western horizon)","lush sacred grove","subtle celestial presence (Gandharva motifs)","inscribed name-marker or shrine-stone"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: stylized waterfall as one continuous ribbon; warm western sky gradient; dense foliage; faint Gandharva silhouettes with instruments.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style: gold-highlighted waterfall and sunset; ornate border; small shrine plaque reading ‘Gandharva’; jewel-toned landscape.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style: refined cascade with realistic flow; gentle sunset light; understated divine ambiance.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari style: minimal, poetic waterfall against a western sunset; delicate trees; small celestial musician figures in the sky."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"descriptive, quietly mysterious","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhvani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"lightly emphatic on names and directions"}

Tags

• Purāṇic Literature
• Ancient Geography
• Sacred Landscapes
• Tīrtha Traditions

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It records a named kṣetra ('Gandharva') and a directional hydrological feature, both valuable for textual geography and for comparing manuscript traditions describing sacred landscapes.

Which geographic location is identified?

A sacred region known as 'Gandharva' is identified; modern identification is uncertain without corroborating regional markers from adjacent verses or parallel texts.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

The verse is primarily descriptive; ethically it supports attentive engagement with place—treating landscape features as culturally significant.