Shloka 102

Veṅkaṭeśa-Māhātmya: Varāha Prelude, Descent of Śeṣācala, Svāmipuṣkariṇī and the Network of Tīrthas

with Dāna-Lakṣaṇas

Devanagari script

यो वा तीर्थे वह्निसंज्ञे च देवि भक्त्या स्नानं कुरुते ऽजं स्मरन्हि / ज्ञानद्वारा मोक्षमाप्नोति देवि तत्र स्नानं दुर्ल्लभं वै नृणां च

Transliteration

yo vā tīrthe vahnisaṃjñe ca devi bhaktyā snānaṃ kurute 'jaṃ smaranhi / jñānadvārā mokṣamāpnoti devi tatra snānaṃ durllabhaṃ vai nṛṇāṃ ca

Translation

يا إلهة، من اغتسل بتعبّدٍ في التيرثا المقدّس المسمّى «فَهْني» وهو يذكر الأجَا، غير المولود، نال الموكشا عبر باب المعرفة الحقّة. ولكن يا إلهة، فإن الاغتسال هناك نادرٌ حقًّا أن يناله البشر.

Word by Word

• yaḥ: who (he who)
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; relative pronoun

• vā: or/indeed
• vā: Sambandha/Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), alternative/emphasis

• tīrthe: in the tīrtha
• tīrthe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tīrtha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• vahni-saṃjñe: named ‘Vahni’
• vahni-saṃjñe: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vahni (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃjñā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; adjective qualifying tīrthe; तत्पुरुष

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

• devi: O Goddess
• devi: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular

• bhaktyā: with devotion
• bhaktyā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• snānam: bathing
• snānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: snāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• kurute: does/performs
• kurute: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Ātmanepada

• ajam: the Unborn (Lord)
• ajam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; epithet ‘Unborn’ (Viṣṇu)

• smaran: remembering
• smaran: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: smṛ (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; agrees with yaḥ

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha/Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), emphasis

• jñāna-dvārā: through the gateway of knowledge
• jñāna-dvārā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jñāna (प्रातिपदिक) + dvāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; तत्पुरुष (jñānasya dvārā) used adverbially ‘through/by means of’

• mokṣam: liberation
• mokṣam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mokṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• āpnoti: attains
• āpnoti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: āp (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada

• devi: O Goddess
• devi: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular

• tatra: there
• tatra: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देश-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (देशवाचक अव्यय)

• snānam: bathing
• snānam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: snāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• durllabham: very difficult to obtain
• durllabham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: durlabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; adjective qualifying snānam

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha/Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), emphasis

• nṛṇām: of men/for humans
• nṛṇām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (addressing Devi as presented in this verse’s wording)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Tirtha-snāna performed with bhakti and Ajā-smaraṇa becomes a jñāna-dvāra culminating in moksha; true efficacy depends on inner remembrance, not mere ritual.

Vedantic Theme: Moksha through jñāna supported by upāsanā (smaraṇa/bhakti); purification as an aid to knowledge (antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi).

Application: When visiting sacred waters, pair the act with focused remembrance of the divine and contemplation; treat pilgrimage as a discipline for inner clarity rather than tourism.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: tirtha (sacred ford)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.26.103-105 (durlabhatā of tirtha-bath and Śālagrāma-dāna; equivalence of alternatives)

Characters & Entities

• Devi
• Ajā (the Unborn Supreme)
• Tīrtha (Vahni-named sacred place)

FAQs

What is the importance of tirtha-snana (holy bathing) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse links holy bathing done with bhakti and remembrance of the Unborn (Ajā) to moksha, emphasizing that the inner orientation (devotion + remembrance) is what makes the act liberating.

How does this verse explain the path to liberation (moksha)?

It states that liberation is attained “through the gate of knowledge” (jñāna-dvāra), supported by devotional practice—bathing at a tīrtha while keeping the Supreme in mind.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat rituals like pilgrimage bathing as aids to remembrance and self-knowledge: perform them with sincere devotion, contemplation of the Divine, and a commitment to inner purification.