Varaha Purana 97.47: Adhyaya 97, Shloka 47

The Glory of Rudra: The Origin of the Kapālamocana Pilgrimage Site and Rudra’s Expiatory Vow

Uttara Bhāga · Kapāla-mocana Tīrtha (Sacred Geography and Purification Theme)

Devanagari script

कपालमोचनं नाम ततस्तीर्थमनुत्तमम् ॥ पृथिव्यां ख्यातिमगमद्वाराणस्यां धराधरे

Recitation with translationVaraha Purana 97.47

Transliteration

kapālamocanaṃ nāma tatas tīrtham anuttamam || pṛthivyāṃ khyātim agamad vārāṇasyāṃ dharādhare

ITRANS transliteration

Translation

అనంతరం ‘కపాలమోచన’ అను అనుత్తమ తీర్థము ఏర్పడెను; అది భూమిపై ఖ్యాతిని పొందెను—వారణాసిలో, ఆ ధరాధరమున।

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Word by Word

• कपालमोचनम्: (the tīrtha called) Kapālamocana
• Type: Noun
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कपालस्य मोचनम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Root: कपाल (प्रातिपदिक) + मोचन (प्रातिपदिक)

• नाम: by name/called
• Type: Indeclinable
• Form: अव्यय, नामनिर्देशक निपात (particle indicating name)
• Role: Nipāta (निपात)
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)

• ततः: then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण — ‘then/thereupon’
• Role: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)

• तीर्थम्: sacred ford/pilgrimage place
• Type: Noun
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)

• अनुत्तमम्: unsurpassed/excellent
• Type: Adjective
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (तीर्थम्)
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Root: अनुत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)

• पृथिव्याम्: on earth
• Type: Noun
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन
• Role: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Root: पृथिवी (प्रातिपदिक)

• ख्यातिम्: fame/renown
• Type: Noun
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Root: ख्याति (प्रातिपदिक)

• अगमत्: attained/reached
• Type: Verb
• Form: लङ्-लकार (imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Root: गम् (धातु)

• वाराणस्याम्: in Vārāṇasī
• Type: Noun
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन
• Role: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Root: वाराणसी (प्रातिपदिक)

• धराधरे: on the mountain/at the hill
• Type: Noun
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (धरां धरतीति/धराधरः = पर्वतः), पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन
• Role: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Root: धराधर (प्रातिपदिक)

Sandhi Notes

• ततस्तीर्थम् = ततः + तीर्थम्
• ख्यातिमगमत् = ख्यातिम् + अगमत्
• धराधरे is a karmadhāraya compound used locatively

Speaker and setting

Shanta and Adbhuta rasaSetting: Tīrtha (sacred ford)

Speaker

Varāha

Bhu Devi and Varaha

In this verse

Varaha teaches her

Her state of mind

Attentive

The teaching

Kind of teaching

Sacred geography as moral technology

Subjects

GeographyHeritage SitesRitual Purification

Core idea

Places (tīrthas) function as concentrated supports for inner purification when approached with right intent.

In practice

Undertake pilgrimage not as tourism but as prāyaścitta: bathe, vow, and reform conduct in tandem.

Dharma

Cross references

Tags

• Ancient Geography
• Vārāṇasī Heritage
• Tīrtha Mahātmya
• Śaiva Sacred Sites

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It anchors a named tīrtha (Kapālamocana) within Vārāṇasī’s sacred landscape, contributing to the historical layering of the city’s pilgrimage toponyms in Sanskrit literature.

Which geographic location is identified?

Vārāṇasī (Kāśī/Benares), a major North Indian heritage city; Kapālamocana is presented as a specific tīrtha associated with it.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

The tīrtha framework encodes an ethic of purification and accountability—actions and their consequences are addressed through disciplined rites and recognized heritage sites.