Varaha Purana 153.46: Adhyaya 153, Shloka 46
The Glory of the Mathurā Sacred Landscape: Saṃyamana Tīrtha and the Twelve Sacred Forests
सौराष्ट्रविषये देवि क्षत्रियोऽभूद् धनुर्धरः ॥ नाम्ना यक्ष्मधनुर्नाम सोऽभवत् प्रियदर्शनः ॥
saurāṣṭraviṣaye devi kṣatriyo 'bhūd dhanurdharaḥ || nāmnā yakṣmadhanur nāma so 'bhavat priyadarśanaḥ ||
ఓ దేవీ, సౌరాష్ట్ర ప్రాంతంలో ఒక ధనుర్ధర క్షత్రియుడు ఉండేవాడు. అతని పేరు యక్ష్మధనుః; అతడు చూడముచ్చటైన రూపమున్నవాడు.
Varāha
Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":true,"earth_interaction":"Varāha narrates to ‘देवि’ (Bhū-devī) a regional royal account, shifting from Vraja geography to Saurāṣṭra narrative setting."}
Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":true,"speaker_role":"instructor","bhu_devi_state":"curious, listening to historical-ethical exempla","key_question":"What exemplary events and persons arose in various regions (here Saurāṣṭra), and what dharmic lesson follows from their story?"}
Mathura Mandala: {"is_mathura_related":false}
Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":false,"instruction_summary":"None (opening of a narrative about a kṣatriya archer; dharma teaching likely unfolds in subsequent verses).","karmic_consequence":"None stated in this verse."}
Vrata Mahatmya: {"has_vrata":false}
Cosmic Boar Symbolism: {"has_symbolism":false}
Philosophical Teaching: {"has_teaching":true,"teaching_type":"itihāsa-narrative as dharma pedagogy","core_concept":"Purāṇic instruction often proceeds through character exempla (kṣatriya conduct, duty, consequences).","practical_application":"Attend to the forthcoming narrative as guidance for righteous power: restraint, protection of subjects, and alignment of martial skill with dharma."}
Subject Matter: ["History","Geography","Royal Narratives"]
Primary Rasa: Vīra
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Type: region/kingdom
Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa 153.153.x (continuation of Yakṣmadhanus narrative)
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A handsome kṣatriya archer named Yakṣmadhanus is introduced in Saurāṣṭra; the scene sets a royal-martial atmosphere with regional landscape cues.","item_prompts":["kṣatriya with bow (dhanus) and quiver","royal attire, calm confident stance","Saurashtra landscape—dry hills/coastal hints, fort or palace silhouette","Varāha narrating to Bhū-devī (optional framing)"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: stylized warrior with ornate jewelry and bow; flat scenic bands suggesting region; if framed, Varāha-Bhū-devī at side as narrators.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: regal archer with gold embellishments on armor and ornaments; palace arch backdrop; rich reds and greens with gold highlights.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: refined courtly portrait of the archer; detailed textiles; subdued background fort; emphasis on ‘priyadarśana’ (pleasing visage).","pahari_prompt":"Pahari: narrative court scene with slender archer figure; fort on hill; soft earth tones; lyrical regional landscape."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative, poised","suggested_raga":"Bhairav or Shuddha Sarang (for storytelling clarity)","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"measured, descriptive, slightly heroic on ‘धनुर्धरः’"}
FAQs
It preserves a regional toponym (Saurāṣṭra) within a Purāṇic narrative frame, useful for studying how texts map stories onto named territories.
Saurāṣṭra (Saurashtra), commonly associated with western India (notably parts of present-day Gujarat) in historical-geographic scholarship.
At this point the verse primarily establishes narrative setting and character identity rather than issuing a direct ethical injunction.
Ask anything about this verse
Answers come straight from the texts, with the shlokas they draw on. Ask in your own words.
A free sign-in with Google or Apple keeps your chat saved across web and the app.
Read Varaha Purana in the Vedapath app
Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with word-by-word meanings, Sanskrit recitation where available, and more.