Varaha Purana 164.33 — Adhyaya 164, Shloka 33
The Efficacy of Circumambulating Annakūṭa
Govardhana
गोनरब्रह्महत्यायाः पापं क्षिप्रं विनश्यति ॥ तीर्थं हि मोक्षराजाख्यं नृणां मुक्तिप्रदायकम् ॥
gonarabrahmahatyāyāḥ pāpaṃ kṣipraṃ vinaśyati || tīrthaṃ hi mokṣarājākhyaṃ nṛṇāṃ muktipradāyakam ||
บาปที่เกิดจาก “โคนร-พรหมหัตยา” ย่อมพินาศโดยเร็ว เพราะทีรถะนี้มีนามว่า “โมกษราช” กล่าวกันว่าเป็นผู้ประทานโมกษะแก่มนุษย์ทั้งหลาย
Varāha (default dialogic frame)
Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":false}
Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":true,"speaker_role":"instructor","bhu_devi_state":"concerned about sin and release (listener)"}
Mathura Mandala: {"is_mathura_related":true,"specific_site":"Mokṣarāja-tīrtha","parikrama_context":"Functions as a named stop within a tīrtha-sequence; likely visited as part of regional yātrā/parikramā through sacred waters.","krishna_connection":"Indirect: Vraja tīrthas are later integrated into Kṛṣṇa-bhakti cartography; ‘mokṣa’ framing complements bhakti as liberative."}
Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":true,"topic":"prayaschitta","instruction_summary":"Even grave sins (here ‘gonara-brahmahatyā’) are said to perish quickly through association with the Mokṣarāja tīrtha that grants mukti.","karmic_consequence":"Approach with faith yields rapid pāpa-kṣaya and supports liberation; disrespect/neglect of such purificatory means leaves one bound to pāpa and its results."}
Vrata Mahatmya: {"has_vrata":false,"promised_fruit":"Mukti (liberation) is promised as tīrtha-phala rather than a named vrata."}
Cosmic Boar Symbolism: {"has_symbolism":true,"symbolic_interpretation":"The tīrtha is portrayed as a ‘mukti-pradāyaka’ conduit: sacred geography becomes a soteriological instrument, mirroring the cosmic rescue motif where the Lord lifts beings from the mire of saṃsāra.","yajna_varaha_imagery":"Implicit: pāpa is ‘washed away’ as oblations are ‘purified’ in yajña; the tīrtha acts like a living altar of purification.","vedantic_connection":"Pāpa-kṣaya is preparatory (citta-śuddhi) for jñāna/bhakti leading to mokṣa; the verse compresses this into a tīrtha-grace idiom."}
Philosophical Teaching: {"has_teaching":true,"teaching_type":"soteriology (mokṣa-sādhana)","core_concept":"Grace mediated through sacred place can rapidly dissolve heavy karmic accretions, enabling liberation-oriented life.","practical_application":"Undertake snāna/darśana with repentance (anuttāpa), resolve not to repeat wrongdoing, and dedicate the act to Hari; use the purified state for japa/dhyāna."}
Subject Matter: ["Ethics","Ritual Practice","Sacred Geography","Cosmology"]
Primary Rasa: śānta
Secondary Rasa: karuṇa
Type: tīrtha (likely water-site/kuṇḍa/ghāṭa)
Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa 164.39.0 (darśana-mātra pāpa-mukti)
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A sacred water-site titled ‘Mokṣarāja’; a penitent pilgrim approaches, hands folded, then bathes; the atmosphere suggests release from a dark burden as light spreads over the water.","item_prompts":["tīrtha sign/inscription ‘Mokṣarāja’","penitent figure with folded hands","water ripples symbolizing cleansing","dark-to-light gradient aura (pāpa to purity)","small shrine with Viṣṇu emblem (śaṅkha-cakra)"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: strong symbolic contrast—dark cloud-like pāpa above dissolving into bright halo over the tīrtha; stylized waves and lotuses; Viṣṇu symbols on a small shrine.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: gold-leaf aura over the tīrtha nameplate; devotee in anjali; ornate shrine with śaṅkha-cakra in gold; luminous water surface.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: soft realism; expressive penitent face; gentle morning light; detailed shrine carvings; subtle spiritual glow over the water.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari: poetic landscape; the tīrtha nestled among trees; a lone pilgrim bathing; light beams indicating ‘mukti-pradāyaka’ grace."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"purificatory, consoling","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"grave yet reassuring, with uplift on ‘मोक्षराजाख्यं’ and ‘मुक्तिप्रदायकम्’"}
FAQs
It shows Purāṇic discourse on purification and liberation tied to named sites, an important feature for reconstructing historical pilgrimage imaginaries.
A tīrtha named Mokṣarāja is identified; the fragment does not supply coordinates or correlating markers for modern identification.
The verse frames moral repair (addressing serious wrongdoing) through prescribed, culturally recognized practices associated with specific heritage locations.
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