Varaha Purana 79.21 — Adhyaya 79, Shloka 21

Description of the Inner Basins (Droṇīs): Śrīsaras, Śrīvana, Bilva Forest, and Tāla Grove

Devanagari script

पञ्चाशद्योजनायामं त्रिंशद्योजनमण्डलम् । रम्यं तालवनं श्रीमत् क्रोशार्द्धोच्छ्रितपादपम् ॥ ७९.२१ ॥

Transliteration

pañcāśad-yojanāyāmaṁ triṁśad-yojanamaṇḍalam | ramyaṁ tālavanaṁ śrīmat krośārdhocchritapādapam || 79.21 ||

Translation

ตาลวนนั้นงดงามและรุ่งเรือง ยาวห้าสิบโยชน์ มีรอบวงสามสิบโยชน์; ต้นไม้ทั้งหลายสูงถึงครึ่งโกรศะ.

Word by Word

• पञ्चाशत्-योजन-आयामम्: having a length of fifty yojanas
• पञ्चाशत्-योजन-आयामम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्चाशत् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + योजन (प्रातिपदिक) + आयाम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (पञ्चाशत् योजनानि आयामः यस्य = having length of fifty yojanas); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; agrees with (तालवनम्/वनम्)

• त्रिंशत्-योजन-मण्डलम्: having an extent/circuit of thirty yojanas
• त्रिंशत्-योजन-मण्डलम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रिंशत् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + योजन (प्रातिपदिक) + मण्डल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (त्रिंशत् योजनानि मण्डलम्/परिमाणम् यस्य = having a circuit/extent of thirty yojanas); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; agrees with (तालवनम्/वनम्)

• रम्यम्: beautiful, delightful
• रम्यम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; agrees with तालवनम्

• तालवनम्: a palm-grove (forest of palmyra trees)
• तालवनम्: Karta (कर्ता / Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ताल (प्रातिपदिक) + वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (तालानां वनम् = palm-grove); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; subject of implied 'asti'

• श्रीमत्: splendid, prosperous, glorious
• श्रीमत्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रीमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; adjective agreeing with तालवनम्

• क्रोश-अर्द्ध-उच्छ्रित-पादपम्: having trees rising to half a krośa (in height)
• क्रोश-अर्द्ध-उच्छ्रित-पादपम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रोश (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्द्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + उच्छ्रित (कृदन्त, क्त; √श्रि/√श्रि? with उत्- 'raised') + पादप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (क्रोशार्द्धम् उच्छ्रिताः पादपाः यस्य = whose trees are raised to half a krośa); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; agrees with तालवनम्

Speaker

Varāha (default speaker within Varāha–Pṛthivī dialogue framework)

Varaha Avatara Context

Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":false,"aspect_highlighted":"None","boar_form_detail":"None","earth_interaction":"None"}

Bhu Devi Dialogue

Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":false,"speaker_role":"instructor","bhu_devi_state":"None","key_question":"None"}

Mathura Mandala

Mathura Mandala: {"is_mathura_related":true,"specific_site":"Tālavana","parikrama_context":"Quantified extent (length and maṇḍala/circuit) reads like a parikramā-relevant measurement of the vana’s sacred perimeter, supporting circumambulatory imagination","krishna_connection":"Strong foreshadowing: Tālavana is a famed Vraja forest in Kṛṣṇa-cycle narratives; the grandeur prepares for later līlā associations"}

Dharma Shastra

Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":false,"topic":"None","instruction_summary":"None","karmic_consequence":"None"}

Vrata Mahatmya

Vrata Mahatmya: {"has_vrata":false,"vrata_name":"None","tithi_month":"None","promised_fruit":"None"}

Cosmic Boar Symbolism

Cosmic Boar Symbolism: {"has_symbolism":false,"symbolic_interpretation":"None","yajna_varaha_imagery":"None","vedantic_connection":"None"}

Philosophical Teaching

Philosophical Teaching: {"has_teaching":true,"teaching_type":"sacred_space","core_concept":"Sacredness is not abstract only; it is embodied in measurable, inhabitable landscapes that become ‘maṇḍalas’ for devotion and recollection","practical_application":"Treat pilgrimage landscapes as disciplined ‘mandalas’: walk attentively, keep vows of restraint, and practice smaraṇa while traversing the perimeter"}

Subject Matter

Subject Matter: ["Geography","Heritage Sites","Ecological Narratives"]

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: forest (vana) with defined perimeter

Cross References

Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa 79.79.22 (tree strength, darkness, fruit); Varāha Purāṇa 79.79.18-20 (forest inhabitants; Sukhā river setting)

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A panoramic view of Tālavana: an immense palm-forest stretching to the horizon, with a suggested circular boundary and extraordinarily tall trees rising like pillars.","item_prompts":["endless tala/palm trunks","scale cues: tiny figures/birds to show height","circular ‘maṇḍala’ path around forest edge","sunlight filtering through fronds","riverbank hinted nearby"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: rhythmic vertical tala trunks; decorative fronds; a ring-path motif around the grove; saturated greens with red-gold accents.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: gold-leaf highlights on fronds and boundary ornaments; stylized, monumental trees; symmetrical mandala-like framing.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: realistic palms with fine detailing; atmospheric perspective to show 50-yojana vastness; gentle light and shadow.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari: lyrical grove with repeating palms; a winding circumambulatory path; emphasis on charm (ramyatā) over strict realism."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"majestic description","suggested_raga":"Madhyamāvati or Kalyāṇ","pace":"medium-slow","voice_tone":"expansive, awe-tinged, clear on numbers"}

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Purāṇic Geography
• Vaishnavism
• Landscape Description

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It preserves a Purāṇic-style cartography of a named landscape (Tālavana) using traditional measures (yojana, krośa), illustrating how Sanskrit texts encode cultural geography and environmental description.

Which geographic location is identified?

The verse identifies “Tālavana,” a palm-grove/forest toponym. Without additional chapter context, a precise modern identification cannot be fixed from this single śloka alone; it should be cross-referenced with adjoining verses and parallel Purāṇic or tīrtha literature.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

The passage is primarily descriptive rather than prescriptive; its philosophical value lies in presenting the forest as a culturally significant landscape—supporting an archival emphasis on environmental features (trees, extent) as part of sacred geography.