Varaha Purana 152.49 — Adhyaya 152, Shloka 49

Praise of the Sacred Geography of Mathurā

Devanagari script

तस्य प्रसन्नो भगवान् द्युमणिः प्रत्यभाषत॥ किं कारणं बले ब्रूहि तपस्यसि महत्तपः॥

Transliteration

tasya prasanno bhagavān dyumaṇiḥ pratyabhāṣata || kiṁ kāraṇaṁ bale brūhi tapasyasi mahattapaḥ ||

Translation

เมื่อทรงพอพระทัย พระผู้เป็นเจ้า ทยุมณิ (พระสุริยะ) ตรัสว่า “โอ้พลี จงบอกมา เหตุใดเจ้าจึงบำเพ็ญตบะอันยิ่งใหญ่นี้?”

Word by Word

• tasya: of him
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• prasannaḥ: pleased
• prasannaḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Predicative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prasanna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); predicate adjective

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

• dyumaṇiḥ: Dyumaṇi (the radiant one)
• dyumaṇiḥ: Apposition (समाधिकरण/Appositive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dyumaṇi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); epithet of Sūrya

• prati-abhāṣata: replied/spoke in return
• prati-abhāṣata: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prati-√bhāṣ (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद)

• kim: what
• kim: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); interrogative

• kāraṇam: reason/cause
• kāraṇam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• bale: O Bali
• bale: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bali (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

• brūhi: tell (me)
• brūhi: Kriyā (क्रिया/Command)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √brū (धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• tapasyasi: you perform austerity
• tapasyasi: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √tapas (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• mahat-tapaḥ: great penance
• mahat-tapaḥ: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक) + tapas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारय: ‘great austerity’

Speaker

Dyumaṇi (Sūrya)

Varaha Avatara Context

Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":false}

Bhu Devi Dialogue

Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":true,"speaker_role":"observer","bhu_devi_state":"curious; witnessing a model dialogue of deity and devotee","key_question":"What is the true motive behind severe tapas—worldly gain, dharma, or liberation?"}

Mathura Mandala

Mathura Mandala: {"is_mathura_related":false}

Dharma Shastra

Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":false}

Vrata Mahatmya

Vrata Mahatmya: {"has_vrata":false}

Cosmic Boar Symbolism

Cosmic Boar Symbolism: {"has_symbolism":false}

Philosophical Teaching

Philosophical Teaching: {"has_teaching":true,"teaching_type":"discernment of intention (saṅkalpa-śuddhi)","core_concept":"Even when pleased, the deity interrogates the cause—boons are framed by motive; tapas without clarified purpose is incomplete.","practical_application":"Before undertaking severe vows, articulate a dharmic intention; examine whether the goal aligns with responsibility and restraint."}

Subject Matter

Subject Matter: ["Philosophy","Ethics","Mythic History"]

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: śānta

Geographic Context

Type: theophany (divine apparition)

Cross References

Related Themes: 152.55.0 (Bali’s stated motive); 152.56.0 (boon granted)

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Sūrya (Dyumaṇi) appears, radiant and pleased, speaking to Bali and asking the reason for his great austerity.","item_prompts":["radiant solar deity with halo","gesture of speech/boon-granting","Bali in ascetic posture","light rays touching the devotee","aura indicating prasāda (pleasure)"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: Sūrya with ornate crown and circular prabhāmaṇḍala; Bali below; speech gesture; rich reds and gold-ochres.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: embossed gold halo for Sūrya; strong frontal iconography; Bali smaller in devotion; decorative arch framing the theophany.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: elegant Sūrya figure with soft glow; refined facial expressions; balanced composition emphasizing dialogue.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari: luminous disc-like Sūrya with anthropomorphic form; delicate rays; intimate conversational spacing between deity and devotee."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"revelatory, inquisitive","suggested_raga":"Kalyani (for luminous clarity)","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"bright yet measured, interrogative on the question"}

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Purāṇic Dialogue
• Solar Cult Traditions

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It marks a shift into direct dialogue (deity–devotee), a common Purāṇic device used to articulate motives, ethics, and the rationale of practices.

Which geographic location is identified?

The dialogue is embedded in the Sūryatīrtha episode; the verse itself does not specify further geographic identifiers.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

The verse foregrounds intentionality: practices are evaluated through stated reasons and aims, encouraging reflective motivation rather than rote action.