Varaha Purana 81.78 — Adhyaya 81, Shloka 78

Description of the Divine Mountain Abodes: Meru, Devakūṭa, and Kailāsa

Devanagari script

तस्य गिरिमूर्ध्नि महती सोमशिला तिष्ठति ।

Transliteration

tasya giri-mūrdhni mahatī somāśilā tiṣṭhati

Translation

บนยอดเขานั้นมีศิลาใหญ่ชื่อว่า “โสมาศิลา” ตั้งอยู่

Word by Word

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

• giri-mūrdhni: on the mountain-top
• giri-mūrdhni: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: giri + mūrdhan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa: 'on the head of the mountain'

• mahatī: great
• mahatī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• somāśilā: the Soma-stone
• somāśilā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: somā + śilā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa: 'Soma-stone'

• tiṣṭhati: stands/remains
• tiṣṭhati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sthā (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

Speaker

Varāha

Varaha Avatara Context

Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":false}

Bhu Devi Dialogue

Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":false,"speaker_role":"instructor"}

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":"tirtha-smriti (sacred geography as dharma-memory)","core_concept":"The cosmos is mapped through named places; remembrance of sacred loci stabilizes tradition and identity.","practical_application":"Use place-names and landmarks as anchors for pilgrimage, calendric observance, and transmission of local sacred history."}

Subject Matter

Subject Matter: ["Geography","Cosmology","Heritage Sites"]

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: sacred stone/peak-top landmark

Cross References

Related Themes: 81.79.0 (Soma’s descent on parvan at the same stone); 81.80.0–81.82.0 (adjacent sacred sites: Trikūṭa, Brahmā, Agni-āyatana)

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A high mountain summit with a prominent, luminous stone labeled Somāśilā, presented as a revered landmark in a sacred landscape.","item_prompts":["towering mountain peak","large smooth stone slab/monolith","subtle lunar sheen on the stone","distant clouds below the summit","small pilgrim path or markers (optional)"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural palette; stylized blue-grey mountain, Somāśilā rendered as a pale, moon-tinted slab with decorative borders; minimal figures, emphasis on sacred landscape.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore composition with gold-leaf halo-like radiance around Somāśilā; ornate frame motifs; mountain simplified, stone central and iconic.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting: delicate linework, soft gradients for mist; Somāśilā highlighted with gentle white-silver tones; restrained ornamentation.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari style: layered Himalayan-like ridges, crisp air, small scale pilgrims; Somāśilā as a bright stone on the crest with lyrical landscape detailing."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"reverential, descriptive","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium-slow","voice_tone":"steady, clear, slightly hushed"}

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Ancient Geography

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It records a named natural landmark, showing how Purāṇic geography preserves micro-toponyms (specific rocks, peaks) as mnemonic anchors.

Which geographic location is identified?

Somāśilā, a summit stone on the referenced mountain; the mountain is defined by the preceding Niṣadha-context passage.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

Implicitly, it encourages recognition and preservation of notable natural features as part of cultural-heritage landscapes.