Varaha Purana 72.9: Adhyaya 72, Shloka 9

Instruction on the Unity of the Triad

Brahmā-Viṣṇu-Rudra

Pūrva Bhāga · Cosmological Narratives (Yuga-Dharma and Divine Forms)

Devanagari script

सृष्टिकाले चतुर्वक्त्रं स्तौमि कालो भवामि च । ब्रह्मा देवासुरा स्तौति मां सदा तु कृते युगे । लिङ्गमूर्तिं च मां देवा यजन्ते भोगकाङ्क्षिणः ॥ ७२.९ ॥

Recitation with translationVaraha Purana 72.9

Transliteration

sṛṣṭikāle caturvaktraṃ staumi kālo bhavāmi ca | brahmā devāsurā stauti māṃ sadā tu kṛte yuge | liṅgamūrtiṃ ca māṃ devā yajante bhogakāṅkṣiṇaḥ || 72.9 ||

ITRANS transliteration

Translation

సృష్టికాలంలో నేను చతుర్వక్త్రుడు (బ్రహ్మ)ను స్తుతిస్తాను; నేనే కాలముగా కూడా అవుతాను. కృతయుగంలో బ్రహ్మ దేవాసురులతో కలిసి నన్ను ఎల్లప్పుడూ స్తుతిస్తాడు. భోగాన్ని కోరే దేవులు నన్ను లింగమూర్తిగా పూజిస్తారు.

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Word by Word

• sṛṣṭi-kāle: at the time of creation
• Type: Noun
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular
• Role: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Root: sṛṣṭi + kāla (प्रातिपदिक)

• catur-vaktram: the four-faced one (Brahmā)
• Type: Noun
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; epithet of Brahmā ('four-faced')
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Root: catur + vaktra (प्रातिपदिक)

• staumi: I praise
• Type: Verb
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Root: stu (धातु)

• kālaḥ: Time
• Type: Noun
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Root: kāla (प्रातिपदिक)

• bhavāmi: I become/am
• Type: Verb
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Root: bhū (धातु)

• ca: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Root: ca (अव्यय)

• brahmā: Brahmā
• Type: Noun
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)

• deva-asurāḥ: gods and demons
• Type: Noun
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; 'gods and asuras'
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Root: deva + asura (प्रातिपदिक)

• stauti: praises
• Type: Verb
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Root: stu (धातु)

• mām: me
• Type: Noun
• Form: Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)

• sadā: always
• Type: Indeclinable
• Form: Adverb (कालवाचक अव्यय)
• Role: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Root: sadā (अव्यय)

• tu: indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Form: Particle (निपात); emphasis/contrast
• Role: Sambandha/Discourse particle (निपात)
• Root: tu (अव्यय)

• kṛte: in Kṛta (Satya)
• Type: Adjective
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; adjective qualifying yuge
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Root: kṛta (प्रातिपदिक)

• yuge: in the age
• Type: Noun
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular
• Role: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Root: yuga (प्रातिपदिक)

• liṅga-mūrtim: the liṅga-form (iconic form)
• Type: Noun
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Root: liṅga + mūrti (प्रातिपदिक)

• ca: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Root: ca (अव्यय)

• mām: me
• Type: Noun
• Form: Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)

• devāḥ: the gods
• Type: Noun
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)

• yajante: worship/sacrifice to
• Type: Verb
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Root: yaj (धातु)

• bhoga-kāṅkṣiṇaḥ: desiring enjoyments
• Type: Adjective
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; adjective qualifying devāḥ
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Root: bhoga + kāṅkṣin (प्रातिपदिक)

Sandhi Notes

• sṛṣṭikāle = sṛṣṭi-kāle
• caturvaktraṃ = catur-vaktram
• devāsurā = deva-asurāḥ
• liṅgamūrtiṃ = liṅga-mūrtim

Speaker and setting

Adbhuta and Shanta rasaSetting: Cosmic (sṛṣṭi-kāla)

Speaker

Varāha

Bhu Devi and Varaha

In this verse

Varaha teaches her

What she asks

How can the same divine reality be praised as Brahmā at creation, become Kāla (Time), be praised by devas/asuras, and be worshiped as Liṅga—what is the unity behind multiple forms?

The teaching

Kind of teaching

Unity of divine functions and forms

Subjects

CosmologyYuga TheoryTheology of Divine Forms

Core idea

The Supreme can function as creator-support (Brahmā-role), as Time, and as worshiped form (Liṅga), without contradiction—one reality, many modalities.

In practice

Respect diverse worship-forms; focus on the inner meaning (tattva) rather than sectarian exclusivity.

The Varaha avatara

Aspect

Cosmic power

Symbolism of the boar

Cross references

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Purāṇic Cosmology
• Hindu Philosophical Theology
• Sanskrit Textual Tradition

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It reflects a Purāṇic tendency to integrate cosmological time (kāla), yuga frameworks, and multiple divine forms into a single doctrinal narrative, illustrating how later Sanskrit compendia systematized earlier mythic and philosophical motifs.

Which geographic location is identified?

No specific geographic location is named in this verse; the content is primarily cosmological and theological rather than topographical.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

Rather than a direct moral injunction, the verse emphasizes a philosophical instruction about recognizing cosmic order—creation, time, and ritual forms—as interconnected aspects within a yuga-based worldview.