Shloka 23

Dharma-sāra: Dāna-mahātmyam, Karma-vāda, and the Conquest of Grief and Greed

Devanagari script

साधूनां दर्शनं पुण्यं तीर्थादपि विशिष्यते / कालेन तीर्थं फलति सद्यः साधुसमागमः

Transliteration

sādhūnāṃ darśanaṃ puṇyaṃ tīrthādapi viśiṣyate / kālena tīrthaṃ phalati sadyaḥ sādhusamāgamaḥ

Translation

Schon der Anblick der Sādhus ist verdienstvoll und übertrifft selbst Pilgerstätten. Ein Tīrtha trägt seine Frucht mit der Zeit, doch die Gemeinschaft der Tugendhaften schenkt ihren Nutzen sogleich.

Word by Word

• साधूनाम्: of the virtuous (saints)
• साधूनाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साधु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• दर्शनम्: seeing/meeting
• दर्शनम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दर्शन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• पुण्यम्: meritorious
• पुण्यम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘दर्शनम्’)

• तीर्थात्: than a pilgrimage place
• तीर्थात्: Apadana (Ablative/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/अपादान), एकवचन

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अप्यर्थ (also/even)

• विशिष्यते: is superior/excels
• विशिष्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि+शिष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; भावे प्रयोग (excels/is superior)

• कालेन: with time / after time
• कालेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; साधन/हेतु (by/with time)

• तीर्थम्: a pilgrimage place
• तीर्थम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• फलति: bears fruit
• फलति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: फल् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सद्यः: immediately
• सद्यः: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सद्यः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: immediately)

• साधु: saint/virtuous person
• साधु: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साधु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; समासाङ्ग (member)

• समागमः: association/meeting
• समागमः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समागम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (साधूनां समागमः)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Satsanga as superior to mere place-pilgrimage; the presence of the holy catalyzes immediate puṇya and inner change.

Vedantic Theme: Sādhu-saṅga as a direct means to purification of antaḥkaraṇa, enabling bhakti and jñāna to arise swiftly.

Application: Seek regular association with ethically grounded, spiritually mature people; prioritize living guidance and character over ritual tourism.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: social-sacred space (satsanga) vs pilgrimage site

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: repeated praise of sādhu-sevā, nāma-smaraṇa, and bhakti as swift purifiers compared to delayed ritual fruits

Characters & Entities

• Sadhus
• Tirthas

FAQs

What is the importance of satsanga (company of saints) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that seeing and associating with sadhus produces immediate spiritual merit, surpassing even pilgrimage whose results may mature over time.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana’s broader dharma teachings?

It emphasizes practical dharma: inner purification through contact with the virtuous is presented as a direct, swift means to accrue punya, complementing external rites like tīrtha-yātrā.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Prioritize time with genuinely ethical and spiritually grounded people, listen to dharmic teachings, and adopt their conduct—treating satsanga as a daily “living pilgrimage.”