Varaha Purana 146.46 — Adhyaya 146, Shloka 46

The Greatness of Hṛṣīkeśa at Rurukṣetra: The Origin Narrative of Ruru and the Sacred Site

Devanagari script

पश्यन्भृग्वाश्रमं रम्यमुत्तरं गतवान् शनैः ॥ गण्डक्याः पूर्वभागे तु विविक्तं विजनं शुभम् ॥

Transliteration

paśyan bhr̥gvāśramaṃ ramyam uttaraṃ gatavān śanaiḥ || gaṇḍakyāḥ pūrvabhāge tu viviktaṃ vijanaṃ śubham ||

Translation

భృగువాశ్రమం రమ్యంగా కనిపించగా, అతడు మెల్లగా ఉత్తరదిశగా వెళ్లెను. గండకీ నదికి తూర్పు భాగంలో ఏకాంతమైన, జనరహితమైన, శుభస్థలం ఉండెను।

Word by Word

• paśyan: seeing
• paśyan: Karta (कर्ता/Agent—same as gatavān)
• Type: Verb
• Root: paś (पश् धातु)
• Form: Śatṛ-pratyaya present active participle (शतृ), Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; 'while seeing'

• bhṛgu-āśramam: Bhṛgu’s hermitage
• bhṛgu-āśramam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhṛgu (प्रातिपदिक) + āśrama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; object of paśyan

• ramyam: delightful
• ramyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ramya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of bhṛgu-āśramam

• uttaram: northward; to the north
• uttaram: Diśā-adhikaraṇa (दिशा-अधिकरण/Directional)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uttara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; used adverbially: 'northwards'

• gatavān: went
• gatavān: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (गम् धातु)
• Form: Kta-vat (क्तवत्) past active participle, Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; 'went/has gone'

• śanaiḥ: slowly
• śanaiḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: śanaiḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa-avyaya (adverb of manner)

• gaṇḍakyāḥ: of the Gaṇḍakī (river)
• gaṇḍakyāḥ: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṇḍakī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (Feminine), Ṣaṣṭhī vibhakti (Genitive, 6th), Ekavacana

• pūrva-bhāge: in the eastern part
• pūrva-bhāge: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pūrva (प्रातिपदिक) + bhāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī vibhakti (Locative, 7th), Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: 'in the eastern part'

• tu: but; indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avadhāraṇa/contrast particle (nipāta)

• viviktam: secluded
• viviktam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-vic (विविच् धातु)
• Form: Kta (क्त) past participle used adjectivally; Napुंसakaliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of (place implied / vijanaṃ)

• vijanam: lonely; uninhabited (place)
• vijanam: Karma (कर्म/Object—described place)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vijana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; used substantively for 'a lonely place'

• śubham: auspicious; beautiful
• śubham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of vijanaṃ

Speaker

Varāha–Pṛthivī dialogue frame (narrative voice)

Varaha Avatara Context

Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":false}

Bhu Devi Dialogue

Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":false}

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":"sacred geography and inner quiet","core_concept":"External solitude (vijana, vivikta) supports internal stillness; slow, mindful movement aligns the seeker with dharma.","practical_application":"Choose a quiet environment for practice; cultivate unhurried conduct (śanaiḥ) to stabilize attention and reduce agitation."}

Subject Matter

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

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: Śānta

Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: riverbank tīrtha / secluded sacred landscape

Cross References

Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa 146.52 (selection of tapo-bhūmi on riverbanks)

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A traveler pauses, gazing at a beautiful hermitage landscape; the Gaṇḍakī flows nearby with an empty, auspicious eastern bank.","item_prompts":["wide river (Gaṇḍakī)","eastern bank indicated by sunrise","secluded grove","hermitage in distance","footprints on sand","gentle northward path"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: broad stylized river band, dense greenery, small āśrama structures, serene traveler figure moving north.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: river rendered as decorative band, gold accents on sunrise and shrine roof, central figure in profile walking slowly.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: naturalistic riverbank, fine foliage detail, soft morning light, contemplative pause gesture.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari: lyrical landscape with river curve, delicate trees, small hermitage, emphasis on spaciousness and solitude."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"serene, descriptive","suggested_raga":"Ahir Bhairav","pace":"medium-slow","voice_tone":"clear, gently narrative"}

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Purāṇic Narrative
• Ancient Geography

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It exemplifies Purāṇic ‘sacred geography,’ anchoring moral practice (tapas) to identifiable riverine landscapes and hermitage networks.

Which geographic location is identified?

The Gaṇḍakī River region (commonly identified with the Gandak/Gandakī system in present-day Nepal–Bihar corridor), and Bhr̥gu’s hermitage as a sacred locale.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

Seeking seclusion is treated as supportive infrastructure for disciplined practice.