Shloka 14
Veṅkaṭācala Māhātmya: Bhakti-Lakṣaṇa, Nārasiṁha-tīrtha, and the Secret Darśana-Vidhi of Śrīnivāsa
कुर्वन्ति यात्रां च तदर्थमेव भक्तिज्ञानं दुर्लभं वै कलौ च / भक्ता ये वै न विरक्ताः सदैव तेषां हरेर्दर्शनं दुर्लभं च
kurvanti yātrāṃ ca tadarthameva bhaktijñānaṃ durlabhaṃ vai kalau ca / bhaktā ye vai na viraktāḥ sadaiva teṣāṃ harerdarśanaṃ durlabhaṃ ca
মানুহে তীৰ্থযাত্ৰাও সেই লৌকিক উদ্দেশ্যতেই কৰে; কলিযুগত ভক্তিজাত সত্য জ্ঞান দুৰ্লভ। যাক ভক্ত বুলি কোৱা হয়, যদি তেওঁ সদায় বৈৰাগ্যহীন থাকে, তেন্তে তেওঁৰ বাবে হৰিৰ দর্শনো দুৰ্লভ।
Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda)
Concept: Pilgrimage without inner transformation becomes worldly; bhakti-jñāna and Hari-darśana require dispassion (vairāgya).
Vedantic Theme: Sādhana-catuṣṭaya emphasis on vairāgya and viveka; aparokṣa-darśana is not produced by mere external acts.
Application: Undertake tīrtha-yātrā with vows of restraint, charity, and contemplation; pair external pilgrimage with inner practices (japa, svādhyāya, service) to cultivate vairāgya.
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: sacred site network
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.24.13 (pseudo-devotion); Garuda Purana 3.24.15 (nature of devotee)
FAQs
This verse states that without steady detachment, even “devotees” rarely attain Hari’s darśana; vairagya is presented as essential for devotion to mature into true realization.
It points to a common tendency in Kali Yuga: spiritual acts like pilgrimage are often done for worldly aims, which obstructs the rise of bhakti-jñāna (devotional wisdom).
Do pilgrimages and rituals with inner renunciation—reduce craving for results, cultivate steady devotion, and seek transformation rather than mere merit or status.