Varaha Purana 33.17: Adhyaya 33, Shloka 17

The Origin of Rudra, the Disruption of Dakṣa’s Sacrifice, and the Establishment of Paśupati

Devanagari script

भूतवेतालजुष्टाय महाभोगोपवीतिने । भीमाट्टहासवक्त्राय कपर्दिन् स्थाणवे नमः ॥ ३३.१७ ॥

Sanskrit recitationVaraha Purana 33.17

Transliteration

bhūtavetālajuṣṭāya mahābhogopavītine | bhīmāṭṭahāsavaktrāya kapardin sthāṇave namaḥ || 33.17 ||

Translation

ستھانو (شیو) کو نمسکار—جو بھوتوں اور ویتالاوں سے گھرا ہوا ہے، عظیم سانپ کو یَجنوپویت کی طرح دھارتا ہے، جس کا چہرہ ہیبت ناک قہقہے سے نمایاں ہے، اور جو جٹا دھاری کپردی ہے۔

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Word by Word

• bhūtavetālajuṣṭāya: to the one frequented by spirits and vetālas
• bhūtavetālajuṣṭāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūta + vetāla + juṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (चतुर्थी/4), Singular (एकवचन); कृदन्त-आधारित विशेषण 'juṣṭa' (PPP of √juṣ) in तत्पुरुष: 'भूत-वेतालैः जुष्टः' (frequented by spirits and vetālas)

• mahābhogopavītine: to him whose sacred thread is a great serpent
• mahābhogopavītine: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + bhoga + upavītin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (चतुर्थी/4), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष: 'महाभोगम् उपवीतं यस्य' / 'महाभोग-उपवीतिन्' (having a great serpent as sacred thread)

• bhīmāṭṭahāsavaktrāya: to him whose face bears a dreadful loud laugh
• bhīmāṭṭahāsavaktrāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhīma + aṭṭahāsa + vaktra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (चतुर्थी/4), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारय: 'भीमः अट्टहासः यस्य वक्त्रे' (whose face has a terrible loud laugh)

• kapardin: O Kapardin (wearer of braided hair)
• kapardin: Sambodhana/Address (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kapardin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); epithet used in apposition (प्रथमा-सम्बोधनार्थ)

• sthāṇave: to Sthāṇu (the immovable one)
• sthāṇave: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sthāṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (चतुर्थी/4), Singular (एकवचन)

• namaḥ: salutation
• namaḥ: Sambodhana/Address (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), obeisance particle (नमस्कारार्थक)

Speaker

Varāha (default narrative framework; speaker not explicit in the excerpt)

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":"theology (epithet-based upāsanā)","core_concept":"The terrifying (ugra) iconography of Śiva signifies transcendence over fear, death, and liminality; the ‘immovable’ (Sthāṇu) points to the unshaken absolute amid change.","practical_application":"Use nāma/guṇa-smaraṇa (remembering epithets) as a stabilizing contemplative practice, especially when confronting fear or instability."}

Subject Matter

Subject Matter: ["Iconography","Theology (descriptive epithets)","Mantra/Invocation","Cultural Heritage"]

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa 33.33 (Śaiva-stuti sequence, surrounding verses)

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A hymn-visual of Sthāṇu-Śiva: surrounded by bhūtas and vetālas, wearing a great serpent as upavīta, matted locks (kapardin), and a face caught in a thunderous aṭṭahāsa.","item_prompts":["Śiva as Sthāṇu (still, towering)","bhūta-vetāla attendants","serpent as sacred thread (upavīta)","matted locks (jaṭā/kaparda)","open mouth in aṭṭahāsa","cremation-ground ambience (suggested)"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, frontal Śiva with expressive eyes, bhūta-gaṇas in rhythmic arrangement, serpent-upavīta clearly shown, warm earthy palette with green background, ornate but restrained jewelry.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, central Śiva with gold-leaf halo, embossed ornaments, serpent-upavīta highlighted in gold relief, bhūtas as smaller side figures, dramatic aṭṭahāsa expression.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, delicate linework, soft shading, Śiva with refined jaṭā and serpent-upavīta, subtle cremation-ground motifs, balanced composition.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style, Śiva in a stark landscape with a small gaṇa retinue, emphasis on narrative expression of laughter and stillness, cool tones with fine detailing."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"ugra-stuti (awe-filled, protective)","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium-slow","voice_tone":"grave, resonant, with emphatic stress on epithets"}

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Purāṇa
• Śaiva Traditions
• Sanskrit Hymnology

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It preserves a compact set of Śaiva epithets typical of Purāṇic hymnology, useful for tracing the development of Śiva’s iconographic and theological descriptors (e.g., bhūta-vetāla attendants, matted hair, and the epithet Sthāṇu) across Sanskrit textual traditions.

Which geographic location is identified?

No specific geographic location is named in this verse; it functions as an invocation describing a deity through epithets rather than mapping sacred geography.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

The verse primarily conveys a philosophical-linguistic act of reverential address (namaḥ) and does not present a direct ethical injunction; its instructional value lies in emphasizing disciplined speech and respectful invocation within a cultural-literary setting.