Varaha Purana 213.37: Adhyaya 213, Shloka 37

The Glory of Gokarṇeśvara: Nandin’s Austerities and Śiva’s Boons

Devanagari script

अणीयसामणीयांसं बृहतां तु बृहत्तरम् ॥ अक्षामालापवित्राङ्गं कमण्डलुकरोद्यम् ॥

Sanskrit recitationVaraha Purana 213.37

Transliteration

aṇīyasām aṇīyāṃsaṃ bṛhatāṃ tu bṛhattaram || akṣamālāpavitrāṅgaṃ kamaṇḍalukarodyatam ||

Translation

พระองค์เล็กยิ่งกว่าสิ่งเล็กที่สุด และยิ่งใหญ่ยิ่งกว่าสิ่งใหญ่ทั้งปวง; พระวรกายอันศักดิ์สิทธิ์ทรงมีประคำอักษะและสายยัชโญปวีต และพระหัตถ์ยกขึ้นถือกมณฑลุ (หม้อน้ำ)

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Word by Word

• अणीयसाम्: of the subtler (ones)
• अणीयसाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अणीयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; विशेषण-प्रयोगः (genitive plural: “of the subtler ones”)

• अणीयांसम्: the subtlest (one)
• अणीयांसम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अणीयांस् (प्रातिपदिक; अणु-तुल्यतर-विशेषण)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• बृहताम्: of the great (ones)
• बृहताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बृहत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; विशेषण-प्रयोगः (genitive plural: “of the great ones”)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थे “but/indeed”

• बृहत्तरम्: the greater (one)
• बृहत्तरम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बृहत्तर (प्रातिपदिक; बृहत्-तरा)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (comparative: “greater”)

• अक्षामाला-पवित्र-अङ्गम्: having body adorned with rosary and sacred thread
• अक्षामाला-पवित्र-अङ्गम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अक्षा-माला (प्रातिपदिक) + पवित्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; समासः (तत्पुरुषः): अक्षामाला च पवित्रं च (यस्य) अङ्गम्—“whose body has rosary and sacred thread/ornament” (descriptive epithet)

• कमण्डलु-कर-उद्यम्: with hand raised holding a water-pot
• कमण्डलु-कर-उद्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कमण्डलु (प्रातिपदिक) + कर (प्रातिपदिक) + उद्यत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; समासः (तत्पुरुषः): कमण्डलुं (धारयन्) करः (यस्य) उद्यतः—“with hand raised/holding a water-pot”

Speaker

Narrator

Varaha Avatara Context

Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":false}

Bhu Devi Dialogue

Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":false}

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":true,"symbolic_interpretation":"The paradox ‘smaller than the smallest, greater than the great’ signals transcendence of measure; ascetic emblems (akṣamālā, pavitra/yajñopavīta, kamaṇḍalu) encode disciplined knowledge and ritual purity integrated with metaphysical infinitude.","yajna_varaha_imagery":"None (though pavitra/yajñopavīta gestures toward yajña, the verse is Śaiva-ascetic rather than Varāha-yajña mapping).","vedantic_connection":"Direct echo of Upaniṣadic aṇor aṇīyān…: the Absolute is immanent in the atom and beyond the cosmos; symbols indicate sādhana that prepares for such realization."}

Philosophical Teaching

Philosophical Teaching: {"has_teaching":true,"teaching_type":"Vedāntic paradox + sādhana markers","core_concept":"The divine is simultaneously infinitesimal and infinite; external emblems (mālā, sacred thread, kamaṇḍalu) point to inner japa, purity, and renunciation.","practical_application":"Adopt steady japa (akṣamālā), maintain purity/ethical restraint (pavitra), and cultivate simplicity (kamaṇḍalu) while contemplating the immanent-transcendent nature of reality."}

Subject Matter

Subject Matter: ["Philosophical paradox (microcosm/macrocosm)","Ascetic markers","Ritual-ethical symbolism"]

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: philosophical-theophany

Cross References

Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa 213.35–39 (divya-cakṣus and form-description sequence)

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Śiva appears as an ascetic-cosmic paradox: serene body bearing rosary and sacred thread, one hand holding a kamaṇḍalu; the aura suggests immeasurable scale—tiny and vast simultaneously.","item_prompts":["akṣamālā (rosary)","yajñopavīta/pavitra across torso","kamaṇḍalu in raised hand","subtle scale-play (miniature cosmos within aura)","calm ascetic posture"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: emphasize ascetic attributes with bold outlines; sacred thread clearly drawn; kamaṇḍalu highlighted; aura with layered bands suggesting vastness.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: gold-leaf aura; embossed sacred thread and rosary; kamaṇḍalu rendered with metallic sheen; background motifs of microcosm (tiny stars) within halo.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: refined depiction of mala beads and thread; gentle glow; suggest paradox via soft vignette—figure crisp, aura expansive.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari: ascetic Śiva in a quiet hermitage; symbolic tiny universe painted within the halo; delicate detailing of beads and water-pot."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative, philosophically charged","suggested_raga":"Darbari Kanada","pace":"vilambita","voice_tone":"grave, meditative, precise diction"}

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Purāṇic Philosophy
• Śaiva Traditions
• Sanskrit Lexicography

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

The ‘smaller than the smallest, greater than the great’ formula is a classic Sanskrit philosophical topos, showing how Purāṇas integrate metaphysical language into narrative description.

Which geographic location is identified?

No geographic reference occurs in this verse.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

The ascetic implements symbolize restraint and disciplined life, implying that power is paired with self-control and ritual order.