Varaha Purana 152.38: Adhyaya 152, Shloka 38

Praise of the Sacred Geography of Mathurā

Devanagari script

स्नानमात्रेण तत्रापि नाकपृष्ठे स मोदते ॥ अस्ति क्षेत्रं परं गुह्यं तिन्दुकं नाम नामतः ॥

Sanskrit recitationVaraha Purana 152.38

Transliteration

snānamātreṇa tatrāpi nākapṛṣṭhe sa modate || asti kṣetraṃ paraṃ guhyaṃ tindukaṃ nāma nāmataḥ ||

Translation

แม้เพียงอาบน้ำ ณ ที่นั้นเท่านั้น เขาย่อมปีติยินดีบนยอดแห่งสวรรค์ อีกทั้งมีเขตศักดิ์สิทธิ์อันสูงส่งและลี้ลับ ชื่อว่า “ตินทุกะ (Tinduka)”

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Word by Word

• स्नान-मात्रेण: by mere bathing
• स्नान-मात्रेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक) + मात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; साधन/हेतु-भाव (instrumental: ‘by mere bathing’)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात; ‘also/even’

• नाक-पृष्ठे: in heaven (lit. on the back of heaven)
• नाक-पृष्ठे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाक (प्रातिपदिक) + पृष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• मोदते: rejoices
• मोदते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुद् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• अस्ति: there is
• अस्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• क्षेत्रम्: a sacred region/field
• क्षेत्रम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण ‘क्षेत्रम्’

• गुह्यम्: secret
• गुह्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुह्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण ‘क्षेत्रम्’

• तिन्दुकम्: Tinduka
• तिन्दुकम्: Visheshya (विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिन्दुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘नाम’ इत्यनेन सह नामनिर्देश

• नाम: named
• नाम: Name-marker (नामनिर्देशक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नामन् (प्रातिपदिक) / अव्यय-प्रयोग
• Form: अव्यय, नामनिर्देशक

• नामतः: by name
• नामतः: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नामतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त (ablatival adverb), ‘by name/as to name’

Speaker

Varāha

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Vaiṣṇavism
• Ancient Geography
• Ritual Studies

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It showcases a Purāṇic rhetorical pattern: minimal ritual action (snāna-mātra) is said to yield maximal result, reflecting devotional and pilgrimage-oriented religiosity.

Which geographic location is identified?

A kṣetra named Tinduka is introduced; the excerpt does not provide enough data for secure modern identification.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

It encourages accessible practices while also implying that sacred landscapes (kṣetra) carry cultural value warranting preservation and respectful use.