Varaha Purana - Adhyaya 1
Varaha PuranaAdhyaya 127 Shlokas

Adhyaya 1: Praise of Varāha and Pṛthivī’s Foundational Questions

Varāha-stutiḥ tathā Pṛthivyā praśnāḥ

Cosmogony-Dialogue (Sṛṣṭi–Pralaya Inquiry) and Earth-Centered Theological Cosmology

本章以吉祥的祈请开篇,长篇赞颂野猪化身瓦拉哈(Varāha)为宇宙救主,自海洋深处托举大地而出。苏多(Sūta)追述往昔:大地女神普利提维(Pṛthivī)被毗湿奴(Viṣṇu)以瓦拉哈之形救起后,向神询问其屡次示现的缘由与造化运行之理。她回忆先前诸化身事迹(摩蹉 Matsya、龟 Kūrma、野猪 Varāha、侏儒 Vāmana、持斧者 Paraśurāma、罗摩 Rāma),继而系统发问:大地复归后万有如何生起、如何维持,何者开启与终结创造,劫期(yuga)如何计数,谁能成就最高圆满。瓦拉哈一笑,显现其身内含摄宇宙之景;普利提维遂见四臂毗湿奴卧于舍沙(Śeṣa)之上,梵天(Brahmā)生于莲华,并诵护世赞(stuti)与近似安伽尼亚萨(aṅga-nyāsa)的护持祈请,以保大地安宁。

Speakers

SūtaPṛthivīVarāha (Viṣṇu/Janārdana/Kṛṣṇa)

Key Concepts

Varāha as Earth-lifter (bhū-uddhāra) and terrestrial restorationAvatāra typology (Matsya, Kūrma, Varāha, Vāmana, Paraśurāma, Rāma) as historical-theological memorySṛṣṭi–sthiti–pralaya questions (creation, maintenance, dissolution)Yuga-gaṇanā and caturyuga structure (posed as inquiry)Cosmic body imagery: worlds and deities perceived within Varāha’s bodyViṣṇu’s yoganidrā on Śeṣa and Brahmā’s lotus-birth (nābhi-kamala)Stuti and protective body-guarding formula (aṅga-protection / nyāsa-like sequence)
Recitation with translationVaraha Purana Adhyaya 1

Shlokas in Adhyaya 1

Verse 1

दंष्ट्राग्रेणोद्धृता गौरुदधिपरिवृता पर्वतैर्निम्नगाभिः साकं मृद्पिण्डवत् प्राग्बृहदुरुवपुषाऽनन्तरूपेण येन। सोऽयं कंसासुरारिर्मुरनरकदशास्यान्तकृत्सर्वसंस्थः कृष्णो विष्णुः सुरेशो नुदतु मम रिपूनादिदेवो वराहः॥ १.२ ॥

愿太初之主——野猪化身瓦拉哈(Varāha)——驱除我的仇敌:昔日他以无量无边、广大无垠之身,将那被大海环绕、并与群山诸河同在的清净大地,如同一团泥土般托举于獠牙之尖;他即是克里希纳(Kṛṣṇa)、毗湿奴(Viṣṇu)、诸天之主,迦姆萨魔之仇敌,诛灭穆罗、那罗迦与十首者(罗波那,Rāvaṇa)者,一切存在之所依。

Verse 2

यः संसारार्णवे नौरिव मरणजराव्याधिनक्रोर्मिभीमे भक्तानां भीतिहर्ता मुरनरकदशास्यान्तकृत्कोलरूपी। विष्णुः सर्वेश्वरोऽयं यमिह कृतधियो लीलया प्राप्नुवन्ति मुक्तात्मानो न पापं भवत्तु नुदितारातिपक्षः क्षितीशः ॥ १.३ ॥

愿无诸恶:彼如舟航于轮回大海,其海以死亡、衰老、疾病之鳄与可怖巨浪而令人战栗,却能除去信众之恐惧;彼以野猪之形终结穆罗、那罗迦与十面者;此毗湿奴为万有之主,心智澄明者于此世以其神圣戏游而得证,成为解脱之灵——愿那已驱散敌军之大地之王,赐予吉祥。

Verse 3

सूत उवाच । यस्मिन् काले क्षितिः पूर्वं वराहवपुषा तु सा । उद्धृता विष्णुना भक्त्या पप्रच्छ परमेश्वरम् ॥ १.४ ॥

苏多(Sūta)说道:往昔之时,大地(Kṣiti)被毗湿奴以野猪(Varāha)之身举起;她以虔敬之心,向至上主宰发问。

Verse 4

धरण्युवाच। कल्पे कल्पे भवानेव मां समुद्धरते विभो। न चाहं वेद ते मूर्तिं नादिसर्गं च केशव॥ १.५ ॥

大地女神达拉尼(Dharanī)说道:“在每一劫、复每一劫,唯有你,伟力无边者,屡次将我再度举起。然而,噢凯沙瓦(Keśava),我并不知你的形相,也不知那最初的创造。”

Verse 5

वेदेषु चैव नष्टेषु मत्स्यो भूत्वा रसातलम्। प्रविश्य तानपाकृष्य ब्रह्मणे दत्तवानसि॥ १.६ ॥

当诸《吠陀》失落之时,汝化为鱼,入于罗萨塔拉,取回经典,并复归于梵天(Brahmā)。

Verse 6

अन्यत्सुरासुरमयं त्वं समुद्रस्य मन्थने । धृतवानसि कौर्म्येण मन्दरं मधुसूदन ॥ १.७ ॥

又在一次搅拌大海之时——天神与阿修罗同作此业——噢,摩度苏达那,汝化为龟(库尔摩),以背承托曼陀罗山。

Verse 7

पुनर्वाराहरूपेण मां गच्छन्तीं रसातलम् । उज्जहारैकदंष्ट्रेण भगवान् वै महार्णवात् ॥ १.८ ॥

随后,汝复化为野猪(婆罗诃,Varāha);当我沉向罗萨塔拉之际,世尊以一牙自大洪海(宇宙大海)中将我举起。

Verse 8

अन्यद्धिरण्यकशिपुर्वरदानेन दर्पितः । अबाधमानः पृथिवीं स त्वया विनिपातितः । बलिस्तु बद्धो भगवंस्त्वया वामनरूपिणा ॥ १.९ ॥

又有:希兰尼亚迦湿布因得赐福而骄狂,压迫大地;他被汝击倒。至于婆利,噢,世尊,亦被汝以侏儒(Vāmana)之身所缚。

Verse 9

पुनर्निःक्षत्रिया देव त्वया चापि पुरा कृता । जामदग्न्येन रामेण त्वया भूत्वाऽसकृत्प्रभो ॥ १.१० ॥

噢,天神,往昔汝亦曾使大地再度无有刹帝利;主宰啊,汝屡次化为阇摩达格尼之罗摩(帕罗修罗摩)。

Verse 10

पुनश्च रावणो रक्षः क्षपितं क्षात्रतेजसा । न च जानाम्यहं देव तव किञ्चिद्विचेष्टितम् ॥ १.११ ॥

而且,罗波那——那罗刹——也被王者武威之光辉所灭。然而,主宰啊,我丝毫不明白你的旨意与那非凡的行持。

Verse 11

उद्धृत्य मां कथं सृष्टिं सृजसे किं च सा त्वया। सकृद् ध्रियेत कृत्वा च पालयते चापि केन च॥ १.१२ ॥

你将我举起之后,如何令创造展开?而那由你所安立的创造,究竟是什么?既已造作,它凭借什么得以维系哪怕一次,又由谁来守护?

Verse 12

केन वा सुलभो देव जायसे सततं विभो । कथं च सृष्टेरादिः स्यादवसानं कथं भवेत् ॥ १.१३ ॥

以何种方式,神啊,遍在者啊,你一次又一次地变得易于亲近?创造的开端如何生起,而它的终结又如何发生?

Verse 13

कथं युगस्य गणना संख्या अस्यानुचतुर्युगम् । के वा विशेषास्तेष्वस्मिन् का वा अवस्थ महेश्वर ॥ १.१४ ॥

应当如何计算一个劫(yuga)——它的数值尺度,以及它如何在四劫的次第中相续?在此轮回周期中,这些劫各自具有什么区别特征?又它们的境况如何,摩诃伊湿伐罗啊?

Verse 14

यज्वानः के च राजानः के च सिद्धिं परां गताः । एतत्सर्वं समासेन कथयस्व प्रसीद मे ॥ १.१५ ॥

哪些是行祭祀者,哪些是诸王,哪些又证得至上成就(悉地)?愿你将这一切略要宣说;请垂怜于我。

Verse 15

इत्युक्तः क्रोधरूपेण जहास परमेश्वरः । हसतस्तस्य कुक्षौ तु जगद्धात्री ददर्श ह ॥ रुद्रान् देवान् सवासवः सिद्धसङ्घान् महर्षिभिः ॥ १.१६ ॥

当以忿怒之相如此言说时,至上主宰便含笑而笑。其笑之际,护持世界者阇伽达特丽(大地)在其腹中见到诸鲁陀罗、与因陀罗同在的诸天,以及与大圣仙同列的悉达众。

Verse 16

सचन्द्रसूर्यग्रहसप्तलोकानन्तः स्थितांस्तावदुपात्तधर्मान् । इतीदृशं पश्यति सा समस्तं यावत्क्षितिर्वेपितसर्वगात्रा ॥ १.१७ ॥

她(大地)如是观见全体:七界与月、日及诸行星天体,皆安住于无边广大之中,各各依其所受之法序而住;她仍如此观看,而大地之身诸肢皆战栗震动。

Verse 17

उन्मीलितास्यस्तु यदा महात्मा दृष्टो धरण्याऽमलसर्वगात्र्या । तावत्स्वरूपेण चतुर्भुजेन महोदधौ सुप्तमथोऽन्वपश्यत् ॥ १.१८ ॥

当那大魂者睁开双目,被全身清净无垢的大地所见之时,她便见他以自身四臂之本相,宛如安卧于大海之上而眠。

Verse 18

शेषपर्यङ्कशयने सुप्तं देवं जनार्दनम् । दृष्ट्वा तन्नाभिपङ्कस्थमन्तःस्थं च चतुर्मुखम् ॥ कृताञ्जलिपुटा देवी स्तुतिं धात्री जगाद ह ॥ १.१९ ॥

她见天神阇那尔达那安卧于舍沙之榻,又见四面者(梵天)在其内,安住于从其脐生之莲上;女神遂合掌恭敬,向护持者达特丽宣说赞颂之偈。

Verse 19

धरण्युवाच । नमः कमलपत्राक्ष नमस्ते पीतवाससे । नमः सुरारिविध्वंसकारिणे परमात्मने ॥ १.२० ॥

大地说道:“顶礼莲瓣眼者;顶礼著黄衣者。顶礼至上我(Paramātman),摧灭诸天之敌者。”

Verse 20

शेषपर्यङ्कशयने धृतवक्षःस्थलश्रिये । नमस्ते सर्वदेवेश नमस्ते मोक्षकारिणे ॥ १.२१ ॥

顶礼于您:安卧于舍沙之榻,胸怀吉祥天女室利;顶礼于您,诸天之主;顶礼于您,赐予解脱(mokṣa)者。

Verse 21

नमः शार्ङ्गासिचक्राय जन्ममृत्युविवर्जिते। नमो नाभ्युत्थितमहत्त्कमलासनजन्मने॥ १.२२ ॥

顶礼于您:执持娑尔伽弓、宝剑与神轮(cakra)者,超越生死者。顶礼于您:从您脐中涌出大莲华,由此莲华诞生莲座之梵天(Brahmā)者。

Verse 22

नमो विद्रुमरक्तास्यपाणिपल्लवशोभिने । शरणं त्वां प्रसन्नास्मि त्राहि नारीमनागसम् ॥ १.२३ ॥

顶礼于您:面容如珊瑚般赤红,双手如嫩芽般光辉。今我以安定信受之心归依于您;愿您护佑此无罪之女子。

Verse 23

पूर्णनीलाञ्जनाकारं वाराहं ते जनार्दन । दृष्ट्वा भीतास्मि भूयोऽपि जगत् त्वद्देहगोचरम् । इदानीं कुरु मे नाथ दयां त्राहि महाभयात् ॥ १.२४ ॥

噢,阇那尔达那(Janārdana)!见到您如深蓝安阇那(眼膏)般的野猪化身(Varāha),我又生恐惧,因为世界仿佛尽入您身之境域。如今,主啊,愿您垂怜,救我脱离大怖畏。

Verse 24

केशवः पातु मे पादौ जङ्घे नारायणो मम । माधवो मे कटिं पातु गोविन्दो गुह्यमेव च ॥ १.२५ ॥

愿凯沙瓦(Keśava)护佑我的双足;愿那罗延那(Nārāyaṇa)护佑我的小腿。愿摩陀婆(Mādhava)护佑我的腰部;愿瞿文达(Govinda)亦护佑我的隐秘之处。

Verse 25

नाभिं विष्णुस्तु मे पातु उदरं मधुसूदनः । ऊरुं त्रिविक्रमः पातु हृदयं पातु वामनः ॥ १.२६ ॥

愿毗湿奴护佑我的脐;愿摩度苏陀那护佑我的腹。愿三步者(Trivikrama)护佑我的大腿;愿侏儒化身(Vāmana)护佑我的心。

Verse 26

श्रीधरः पातु मे कण्ठं हृषीकेशो मुखं मम । पद्मनाभस्तु नयने शिरो दामोदरो मम ॥ १.२७ ॥

愿持吉祥者(Śrīdhara)护佑我的咽喉;愿主宰诸根者(Hṛṣīkeśa)护佑我的面容。愿莲脐者(Padmanābha)护佑我的双眼;愿达摩达罗(Dāmodara)护佑我的头顶。

Verse 27

एवं न्यस्य हरेर्न्यासमामानि जगती तदा । नमस्ते भगवन् विष्णो इत्युक्त्वा विरराम ह ॥ १.२८ ॥

如是安置了属于哈利(Hari)的圣化“尼亚萨”(nyāsa)之后,大地女神(Jagatī)便说道:“顶礼于您,世尊毗湿奴!”说罢遂归于寂然。

Inside Adhyaya 1

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    Maṅgala-style invocation and expansive stuti of Varāha as Viṣṇu the cosmic rescuer, emphasizing bhū-uddhāra (lifting Earth) from the mahārṇava and restoring order after destabilization toward rasātala.

  2. Central event

    Sūta recalls the post-rescue moment when Pṛthivī, steadied after being raised, questions Varāha about recurring avatāras and the mechanics of sṛṣṭi–sthiti–pralaya: what initiates creation, how it is sustained, what ends it, how yugas are counted, and who attains the highest success.

  3. Climax resolution

    Varāha’s laughter discloses a cosmic theophany: Pṛthivī beholds the universe within him and then the four-armed Viṣṇu in yoganidrā on Śeṣa with Brahmā lotus-born from the navel, confirming Viṣṇu as the ground of cyclical time and cosmogenesis; Pṛthivī responds with protective stuti and aṅga-nyāsa-like invocations for terrestrial safety.

Geographical context

Primarily cosmological rather than regional geography. Ecological/cosmic regions referenced include rasātala (nether realm), mahārṇava/mahā-udadhi (great ocean), sapta-loka (seven worlds), and Meru (cosmic mountain).

Ritual instructions

  • Primary RitualProtective stuti with nyāsa-like aṅga-guarding for the safeguarding of the world-body (Earth) under Viṣṇu/Varāha’s protection.
  • BenefitModeled as a protective and stabilizing act: reinforces bhū-rakṣā (terrestrial safeguarding), aligns the reciter with Viṣṇu’s sustaining power, and cultivates cosmological clarity about cyclical creation and preservation.

The narrative frame

  • SūtaAssembly of sages (implied traditional frame) with the internal dialogue between Pṛthivī and Varāha · Reverential and inquisitive: stuti-driven devotion moving into systematic cosmological questioning, answered through theophany rather than immediate technical exposition.

The emotional journey

  • Dominant RasaAdbhuta (wonder) with Bhakti (devotion) as the sustaining undertone
  • Emotional ProgressionAuspicious praise → relief and gratitude after rescue → disciplined curiosity about cosmic causality → awe at the revealed cosmos within the deity → protective tenderness toward the Earth through stuti/nyāsa-like guarding.

Planning a pilgrimage

  • Visit FeasibilityThis adhyāya is primarily cosmological and not anchored to a single terrestrial kṣetra; feasible as a ‘conceptual pilgrimage’ by visiting major Varāha/Viṣṇu temples associated with bhū-uddhāra iconography.

Frequently Asked Questions

The chapter frames an Earth-centered ethic through narrative: Pṛthivī’s rescue becomes the basis for asking how the world is created, stabilized, and protected. The text positions terrestrial preservation (bhū-uddhāra and ongoing safeguarding) as a central cosmological concern, expressed through praise, inquiry, and protective recitation directed to Viṣṇu/Varāha.

No explicit tithi, lunar month, vrata timing, or seasonal markers appear in this adhyāya. The temporal framework is instead kalpa-based recurrence (“kalpe kalpe”), emphasizing cyclical cosmic time rather than ritual calendrics.

Terrestrial balance is encoded through the motif of Earth’s destabilization and recovery: Pṛthivī is carried toward rasātala and restored from the mahārṇava by Varāha. The subsequent protective stuti and body-guarding invocations function as a literary model for safeguarding the integrity of the world-body (Earth) within a broader cosmological order.

The chapter references avatāra-linked figures and antagonists as cultural memory rather than genealogical lists: Hiraṇyakaśipu, Bali (bound by Vāmana), Jāmadagnya Rāma (Paraśurāma), and Rāvaṇa. It also includes cosmological personnel: Śeṣa (supporting Viṣṇu) and Brahmā (four-faced, lotus-born from the navel).

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