Varaha Purana 3.17 — Adhyaya 3, Shloka 17

Nārada’s Account of a Former Birth and a Hymn to Nārāyaṇa

Devanagari script

त्रिवेदगम्यं त्रिनवैकमूर्तिं त्रिशुक्लसंस्थं त्रिहुताशभेदम् । त्रितत्त्वलक्ष्यं त्रियुगं त्रिनेत्रं नमामि नारायणमप्रमेयम् ॥ ३.१७ ॥

Transliteration

trivedagamyam trinavaikamūrtiṁ triśuklasaṁsthaṁ trihutāśabhedam | tritattvalakṣyaṁ triyugaṁ trinetraṁ namāmi nārāyaṇam aprameyam || 3.17 ||

Translation

త్రివేదములచే గమ్యుడై, త్రివిధంగా ఏకమూర్తిగా ప్రకాశించి, త్రిశుక్ల-శుద్ధిలో స్థితుడై, త్రిహుతాశన (మూడు పవిత్ర అగ్నులు) భేదరూపుడై, త్రితత్త్వలక్ష్యుడై, త్రియుగసంబంధుడై, త్రినేత్రుడైన అప్రమేయ నారాయణునకు నేను నమస్కరిస్తున్నాను।

Word by Word

• त्रि-वेद-गम्यम्: knowable by the three Vedas
• त्रि-वेद-गम्यम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक) + वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + गम्य (कृदन्त; गम्-धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—'त्रिवेदैः गम्यः' (knowable/attainable by the three Vedas); गम्य = भाव्य/साध्य, क्तव्यतुल्य-प्रत्यय (gerundive sense)

• त्रि-नव-एक-मूर्तिम्: of thirteen forms
• त्रि-नव-एक-मूर्तिम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक) + नव (प्रातिपदिक) + एक (प्रातिपदिक) + मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; संख्यापूर्वक-तत्पुरुषः—'त्रि-नव-एक' (= 3+9+1 = 13) मूर्तिः यस्य (having thirteen forms)

• त्रि-शुक्ल-संस्थम्: established in three pure states
• त्रि-शुक्ल-संस्थम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक) + शुक्ल (प्रातिपदिक) + संस्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—'त्रिषु शुक्लेषु संस्थः/स्थितः' (established in three pure states)

• त्रि-हुताश-भेदम्: threefold in the fires (Agni)
• त्रि-हुताश-भेदम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक) + हुताश (प्रातिपदिक) + भेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—'त्रयः हुताशाः/अग्नयः, तेषां भेदः' (having/denoting the threefold division of fire)

• त्रि-तत्त्व-लक्ष्यम्: the goal of the three principles
• त्रि-तत्त्व-लक्ष्यम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक) + तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक) + लक्ष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—'त्रितत्त्वैः लक्ष्यः' (to be aimed at/known through the three principles)

• त्रि-युगम्: present in three yugas
• त्रि-युगम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक) + युग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—'त्रिषु युगेषु (स्थितः/व्याप्तः)' (present in three yugas)

• त्रि-नेत्रम्: three-eyed
• त्रि-नेत्रम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक) + नेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—'त्रीणि नेत्राणि यस्य' (three-eyed)

• नमामि: I bow to
• नमामि: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नम् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• नारायणम्: Nārāyaṇa
• नारायणम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अ-प्रमेयम्: immeasurable
• अ-प्रमेयम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ (नञ्-प्रत्यय, अव्यय) + प्रमेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; नञ्-समास/नकारार्थक-उपसर्गयुक्त—'प्रमाणेन मेयः' इति प्रमेयः, तद्विपरीतः (immeasurable/unknowable by pramāṇa)

Speaker

Varāha (default dialogue framework; speaker not explicit in fragment)

Varaha Avatara Context

Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":false,"aspect_highlighted":"None","boar_form_detail":"None","earth_interaction":"None"}

Bhu Devi Dialogue

Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":false,"speaker_role":"instructor","bhu_devi_state":"None","key_question":"None"}

Mathura Mandala

Mathura Mandala: {"is_mathura_related":false,"specific_site":"None","parikrama_context":"None","krishna_connection":"Indirect: Nārāyaṇa as the source of yuga-forms later including Kṛṣṇa, but not Mathurā-specific here."}

Dharma Shastra

Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":false,"topic":"None","instruction_summary":"None","karmic_consequence":"None"}

Vrata Mahatmya

Vrata Mahatmya: {"has_vrata":false,"vrata_name":"None","tithi_month":"None","promised_fruit":"None"}

Cosmic Boar Symbolism

Cosmic Boar Symbolism: {"has_symbolism":true,"symbolic_interpretation":"A Vedic-theological compression of Nārāyaṇa as the triadic ground of śruti, ritual fire, cosmic time, and tattva—typical of Yajña-Nārāyaṇa/Varāha theology where the deity is the integrator of Veda (pramāṇa), yajña (karma), and tattva (jñāna).","yajna_varaha_imagery":"Explicit triads: three Vedas; three sacred fires (gārhapatya–āhavanīya–dakṣiṇa); three yugas (as a triadic time-schema); three eyes as omniscient oversight across the threefold cosmos/time/ritual.","vedantic_connection":"Moves from prameya categories (Veda, tattva, yuga) to aprameya Nārāyaṇa: the one reality that is indicated by śruti yet exceeds objectification; aligns with Upaniṣadic tendency to treat ritual triads as pointers to a single brahman/īśvara."}

Philosophical Teaching

Philosophical Teaching: {"has_teaching":true,"teaching_type":"theology of triads (Veda–yajña–tattva–time) culminating in transcendence","core_concept":"The one Nārāyaṇa is expressed through multiple triadic structures yet remains ultimately immeasurable (aprameya).","practical_application":"Contemplate unity behind ritual and doctrinal multiplicity; use Vedic study and yajña-symbols as supports for non-fragmented devotion (ekāgratā)."}

Subject Matter

Subject Matter: ["Theology (Purāṇic cosmology)","Philosophical taxonomy (tattva)","Vedic tradition","Sacred fire ritual symbolism"]

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: śānta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: None

Cross References

Related Themes: 3.3.18 (yuga-forms); 3.3.20 (prameya/aprameya)

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A devotional hymn-portrait of Nārāyaṇa surrounded by triadic emblems: three Vedas, three fires, and a cosmic triad of time; the deity shown serene yet all-seeing with three eyes.","item_prompts":["Nārāyaṇa enthroned or standing in calm majesty","three eyes (subtle, not grotesque)","three sacred fires on altars","Vedic manuscripts/reciters symbolizing the three Vedas","cosmic time bands labeled Kṛta–Tretā–Dvāpara (tri-yuga)"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: deep greens/ochres, Nārāyaṇa with serene face and subtle third eye motif expanded to tri-eye, three homa-kuṇḍas with flames, rishis holding palm-leaf Veda texts, balanced symmetrical composition.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: central Nārāyaṇa with heavy gold halo and arch, three small gold-embossed fire-altars below, miniature Veda scrolls at sides, triadic motifs rendered as gold relief.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: refined linework, soft shading, Nārāyaṇa with gentle tri-eye indication, three fires with delicate smoke, restrained ornamentation emphasizing śānta.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari: lyrical landscape-cosmos backdrop, Nārāyaṇa on a stylized cloud, three fires in foreground, rishis with manuscripts, bright but soft palette."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"reverential, contemplative stotra","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium-slow","voice_tone":"steady, resonant, with clear articulation of triadic compounds"}

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Purāṇa Studies
• Vaiṣṇavism
• Sanskrit Hymnology
• Vedic Ritual Culture

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It represents a Purāṇic stuti-style invocation that integrates Vedic authority (the three Vedas) with later Purāṇic theological description, using triadic cataloguing typical of early medieval Sanskrit devotional and philosophical literature.

Which geographic location is identified?

No geographic location is specified in this verse; it functions as a doctrinal and hymnic description rather than a tīrtha or sacred-geography reference.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

The verse primarily conveys a philosophical instruction of reverential orientation (namāmi) toward an ultimate principle described as 'immeasurable' (aprameya), emphasizing epistemic humility and Vedic-grounded contemplation rather than a direct prescriptive ethic.