Varaha Purana 9.21 — Adhyaya 9, Shloka 21

The Sequence of Creation, the Emergence of the Praṇava, and the Fish Incarnation’s Retrieval of the Vedas

Devanagari script

सृष्टिं सृष्ट्वा तथा देवो भगवान् भूतभावनः । कल्पसंज्ञं स्वकं घस्त्रं जागर्ति परमेश्वरः ॥ ९.२१ ॥

Transliteration

sṛṣṭiṁ sṛṣṭvā tathā devo bhagavān bhūtabhāvanaḥ | kalpasaṁjñaṁ svakaṁ ghastraṁ jāgarti parameśvaraḥ || 9.21 ||

Translation

ఇలా సృష్టిని సృష్టించిన తరువాత, భూతభావనుడైన భగవాన్ దేవ పరమేశ్వరుడు జాగరూకుడై ఉండి, ‘కల్ప’ అనే సంజ్ఞ కల తన స్వకీయ ఉపకరణం (ఘస్త్రం)ను కాపాడుచు పర్యవేక్షించుచున్నాడు।

Word by Word

• sṛṣṭim: creation
• sṛṣṭim: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sṛṣṭi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• sṛṣṭvā: having created
• sṛṣṭvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sṛj (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), having created

• tathā: thus/likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• devaḥ: the god
• devaḥ: Kartā (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• bhagavān: the Blessed Lord
• bhagavān: Kartā (कर्ता/Subject; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• bhūta-bhāvanaḥ: creator/nourisher of beings
• bhūta-bhāvanaḥ: Kartā (कर्ता/Subject; epithet)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūta-bhāvana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष: bhūta (भूत) + bhāvana (भावन) = 'nourisher/producer of beings'

• kalpa-saṁjñam: called 'Kalpa'
• kalpa-saṁjñam: Karma (कर्म/Object; qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kalpa-saṁjña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष: kalpa (कल्प) + saṁjñā (संज्ञा) = 'named "Kalpa"'

• svakam: his own
• svakam: Karma (कर्म/Object; qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: svaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• ghastram: (his) period/cycle (ghastra)
• ghastram: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ghastra (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); rare word, contextually 'day/night-cycle or period' (uncertain reading)

• jāgarti: keeps watch / remains awake
• jāgarti: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jāgar (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• parameśvaraḥ: the Supreme Lord
• parameśvaraḥ: Kartā (कर्ता/Subject; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parama-īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारय: parama (परम) + īśvara (ईश्वर)

Speaker

Varāha

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":"None"}

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":"The Lord ‘remaining awake’ after creating indicates continuous providence (anugraha/niyamanā) rather than a deistic withdrawal; kalpa is treated as His operative instrument—time as a divine tool.","yajna_varaha_imagery":"Kalpa as the ‘implement’ (śastra/yantra-like) by which the cosmic rite proceeds; the overseer-priest (Īśvara) stays vigilant to maintain ṛta (order) through the cycle.","vedantic_connection":"Affirms Īśvara’s immanence and governance: creation, maintenance, and temporal regulation occur under conscious supremacy; time is subordinate to the Lord, not an independent absolute."}

Philosophical Teaching

Philosophical Teaching: {"has_teaching":true,"teaching_type":"theology/time","core_concept":"God is bhūta-bhāvana (sustainer) who actively oversees the cosmos through kalpa—time is His instrument.","practical_application":"Cultivate trust in divine order while acting responsibly; interpret change and cycles as structured, not chaotic."}

Subject Matter

Subject Matter: ["Cosmology","Time Cycles (Kalpa)","Theology (Neutral-archival)"]

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: temporal-cosmic framework

Cross References

Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa 9.9.18-20 (creation/population); Varāha Purāṇa 9.9.22 (arising of triloka within the cosmos)

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"After creation, the Supreme Lord is depicted as wakeful and watchful over the cosmic mechanism of time—like a sovereign overseeing a vast, orderly universe-clock.","item_prompts":["cosmic wheel or mandala labeled kalpa","Lord as vigilant guardian (standing or seated)","stars/planets moving in ordered paths","scroll/śāstra-like instrument suggesting ‘ghastra/śastra’"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, ornate cosmic wheel with concentric bands, the Lord poised in calm vigilance, rich decorative borders and rhythmic celestial motifs.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, central deity with large gold halo, embossed kalpa-wheel behind, heavy gold detailing on cosmic elements.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, refined deity figure with subtle expression of wakefulness, detailed cosmic mandala, soft luminous background.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari style, narrative scene of the Lord beside a turning cosmic wheel under a starry sky, delicate lines and cool palette."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"solemn, authoritative","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium-slow","voice_tone":"deep, steady, proclamatory"}

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Purāṇic Cosmology
• Vaiṣṇavism
• Sanskrit Studies

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It reflects a standard Purāṇic cosmological model in which creation is followed by ongoing divine preservation, expressed through the technical vocabulary of kalpa (aeon) and sustained governance of the cosmos.

Which geographic location is identified?

No geographic location is named in this verse; the content is cosmological rather than tied to a specific sacred site.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

The verse emphasizes continuity of order after creation—an implicit philosophical instruction about stewardship and maintenance (preservation) rather than mere origination.