Varaha Purana 183.4: Adhyaya 183, Shloka 4

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

Devanagari script

काष्ठानामप्यलाभे तु मृण्मयीं तत्र कारयेत् ॥ शैलजां वा ततो भूमे मम कर्मपरायणः ॥

Recitation with translationVaraha Purana 183.4

Transliteration

kāṣṭhānām apy alābhe tu mṛṇmayīṃ tatra kārayet || śailajāṃ vā tato bhūme mama karmaparāyaṇaḥ ||

Translation

కట్టెలు కూడా లభించకపోతే అక్కడే మట్టితో ప్రతిమను చేయించాలి; లేదా తరువాత, హే భూమీ, రాతితో చేసిన ప్రతిమను చేయించాలి—నా కర్మాలలో పరాయణుడైనవాడు।

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Word by Word

• काष्ठानाम्: of wood (pieces)
• काष्ठानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Gen. 6), बहुवचन (pl.)

• अपि: even; also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (particle: even/also)

• अलाभे: in the non-availability; in absence
• अलाभे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अलाभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Loc. 7), एकवचन (sg.); भाववाचक (state)

• तु: but; however
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक-अव्यय (particle: but/indeed)

• मृण्मयीम्: made of clay
• मृण्मयीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृण्मयी (प्रातिपदिक; मृद्+मय)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Acc. 2), एकवचन (sg.); विशेषण (understood: प्रतिमाम्/अर्चाम्)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place: there)

• कारयेत्: should have (it) made
• कारयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) [णिच् causative: कारय-]
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (sg.); परस्मैपद; णिच् (causative)

• शैलजाम्: stone-made; born of rock
• शैलजाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शैलज (प्रातिपदिक; शैल+ज)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Acc. 2), एकवचन (sg.); विशेषण (understood: प्रतिमाम्)

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

• ततः: then; thereafter
• ततः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रम/अपादानार्थक-अव्यय (adverb: then/from that)

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

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

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

Speaker

Varāha (default, addressing Pṛthivī)

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Purāṇic Studies
• Vaiṣṇavism
• Material Religion

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It documents a hierarchy of materials for icon production and acknowledges pragmatic adaptation—useful for understanding historical craft practices and ritual economies.

Which geographic location is identified?

No location is named; the focus is on material availability rather than sacred geography.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

To maintain continuity of practice without excess, adapting responsibly to available resources.