Varaha Purana 79.1: Adhyaya 79, Shloka 1

Description of the Inner Basins (Droṇīs): Śrīsaras, Śrīvana, Bilva Forest, and Tāla Grove

Devanagari script

रुद्र उवाच । सीतान्तस्याचलेन्द्रस्य कुमुदस्यान्तरेण च । द्रोण्यां विहङ्गपुष्टायां नानासत्त्वनिषेवितम् ॥ ७९.१ ॥

Recitation with translationVaraha Purana 79.1

Transliteration

rudra uvāca | sītāntasyācalendrasya kumudasyāntareṇa ca | droṇyāṃ vihaṅgapuṣṭāyāṃ nānāsattvaniṣevitam || 79.1 ||

Translation

రుద్రుడు పలికెను—అచలేంద్రుడైన సీతాంత పర్వతమునకు మరియు కుముద పర్వతమునకు మధ్య, పక్షులచే పోషింపబడిన ఒక ద్రోణి (లోయ) ఉంది; అక్కడ నానావిధ జీవులు నివసించి సంచరిస్తుంటారు।

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Word by Word

• rudraḥ: Rudra
• rudraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rudra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (लिट्, Perfect), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; parasmaipada

• sītāntasya: of Sītānta (name)
• sītāntasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sītānta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; तत्पुरुषः (sītāyāḥ antaḥ) as place-name

• acala-indrasya: of the lord of mountains
• acala-indrasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: acala + indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (acalānām indraḥ)

• kumudasya: of Kumuda (name)
• kumudasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kumuda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular; proper name

• antareṇa: between / in the interval between
• antareṇa: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: antara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (postposition) governing Genitive; 'between/through the interval of'

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

• droṇyām: in a valley/basin
• droṇyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: droṇī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• vihaṅga-puṣṭāyām: (in the valley) nourished by birds
• vihaṅga-puṣṭāyām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vihaṅga + puṣṭā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Singular; adjective qualifying 'droṇyām'; तत्पुरुषः (vihaṅgaiḥ puṣṭā) = nourished by birds

• nānā-sattva-niṣevitam: inhabited by various creatures
• nānā-sattva-niṣevitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nānā + sattva + niṣevita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; adjective to implied 'sthānam/vanam'; niṣevita = past passive participle (क्त) from ni-√sev; compound: tatpuruṣa (nānāni sattvāni yaiḥ niṣevitam)

Speaker

Rudra

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Purāṇic Geography
• Environmental Description
• Sanskrit Philology

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It exemplifies a Purāṇic method of mapping cultural geography through named mountains and distinctive ecological features, preserving older toponyms and landscape vocabulary in a narrative register.

Which geographic location is identified?

A valley-basin (droṇī) situated between the mountains named Sītānta and Kumuda; these names function as ancient toponyms, and modern identification remains uncertain without corroborating regional lists and commentarial traditions.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

While not an explicit moral injunction, the verse foregrounds a biodiverse habitat ‘frequented by many beings,’ supporting an implicit cultural valuation of living landscapes within sacred-geographical description.