Varaha Purana 183.3: Adhyaya 183, Shloka 3

Installation of a Clay Icon (Mṛnmayārcā) and the Ritual Protocol of Worship

Uttara Bhāga · Pratimā–Arcana Vidhi (Iconography and Worship Protocols)

Devanagari script

ईदृशीं प्रतिमां कृत्वा मम कर्मपरायणः ॥ भूमे सर्वाणि कर्माणि यथा वा रोचते तथा ॥

Recitation with translationVaraha Purana 183.3

Transliteration

īdṛśīṃ pratimāṃ kṛtvā mama karmaparāyaṇaḥ || bhūme sarvāṇi karmāṇi yathā vā rocate tathā ||

ITRANS transliteration

Translation

ఇలాంటి ప్రతిమను నిర్మించి, హే భూమీ, నా కర్మాలలో పరాయణుడైనవాడు అన్ని కార్యాలను తనకు అనుకూలంగా, యథాయోగ్యంగా నిర్వహించగలడు।

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Word by Word

• ईदृशीम्: such; of this kind
• Type: Adjective
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Acc. 2), एकवचन (sg.); विशेषण प्रतिमाम्-विशेषण
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Root: ईदृश (प्रातिपदिक)

• प्रतिमाम्: image; idol
• Type: Noun
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Acc. 2), एकवचन (sg.)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Root: प्रतिमा (प्रातिपदिक)

• कृत्वा: having made
• Type: Verb
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive)
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया; पूर्वकालिक)
• Root: कृ (धातु)

• मम: my
• Type: Noun
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Gen. 6), एकवचन (sg.); सर्वनाम (pronoun)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)

• कर्मपरायणः: devoted to (my) rites/duties
• Type: Adjective
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nom. 1), एकवचन (sg.); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/उपपद-समासार्थः ‘कर्मणि परायणः’ (devoted to duty/ritual)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Root: कर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + परायण (प्रातिपदिक)

• भूमे: O Earth!
• Type: Noun
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Voc.), एकवचन (sg.)
• Role: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Root: भूमि (प्रातिपदिक)

• सर्वाणि: all
• Type: Adjective
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Acc. 2), बहुवचन (pl.); विशेषण कर्माणि-विशेषण
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)

• कर्माणि: acts; rites
• Type: Noun
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Acc. 2), बहुवचन (pl.)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)

• यथा: as; in the manner that
• Type: Indeclinable
• Form: उपमान/प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: as/according as)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)

• वा: or
• Type: Indeclinable
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (particle: or/indeed)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Root: वा (अव्यय)

• रोचते: pleases; seems good
• Type: Verb
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (sg.); आत्मनेपद; ‘(it) pleases/appears good’
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Root: रुच् (धातु)

• तथा: so; thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Form: तद्वत्/एवम्-अर्थक-अव्यय (adverb: so/thus)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)

Sandhi Notes

• कर्मपरायणः is a तत्पुरुष compound

Speaker and setting

Shanta and Bhakti rasa

Speaker

Varāha

Bhu Devi and Varaha

In this verse

Varaha teaches her

Her state of mind

Attentive/curious (instruction-receiving)

What she asks

How should one proceed with ritual action after establishing an appropriate image, and what latitude is allowed in performing karmas?

The teaching

Kind of teaching

Karma-yoga / niyama (regulated action)

Subjects

Ritual PracticeDevotional DisciplineEthics

Core idea

Ritual action becomes properly oriented when anchored in devotion to the Lord’s prescribed acts; situational appropriateness is permitted within the rite.

In practice

Establish a suitable icon and perform daily/occasional duties with devotional intent, adapting details to one’s circumstances without abandoning the core observance.

The Varaha avatara

With the Earth

Direct address to Bhūmi while prescribing icon-based ritual performance and permissibility of actions aligned with rite and circumstance.

Dharma

Cross references

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Purāṇic Studies
• Vaiṣṇavism
• Ritual Studies

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It preserves a dialogic Purāṇic teaching style (addressing Bhūmi) while indicating flexibility in ritual performance once basic iconographic standards are met.

Which geographic location is identified?

No geographic site is specified; “Bhūmi” functions as the interlocutor (Earth personified), not a place-name.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

Sustained commitment to disciplined practice (karmaparāyaṇatā) paired with contextual appropriateness in how rites are carried out.