Shloka 5

Devanagari script

शालग्रामशिला यत्र देवो द्वारवतीभवः / उभयोः संगमो यत्र तत्र मुक्तिर्न संशयः

Transliteration

śālagrāmaśilā yatra devo dvāravatībhavaḥ / ubhayoḥ saṃgamo yatra tatra muktirna saṃśayaḥ

Translation

Wo der heilige Śālagrāma-Stein ist und wo der Herr, der in Dvārakā weilt, gegenwärtig ist — wo beide zusammenkommen — dort ist Befreiung (mokṣa); daran besteht kein Zweifel.

Word by Word

• शालग्रामशिला: the Śālagrāma stone
• शालग्रामशिला: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शालग्राम + शिला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (शालग्रामस्य शिला)

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, देशवाचक-सम्बन्ध (relative adverb: where)

• देवः: the Lord / deity
• देवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• द्वारवतीभवः: (the deity) of/connected with Dvāravatī
• द्वारवतीभवः: Pradhana-predicative (विशेषण/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वारवती + भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (द्वारवत्याः भवः = originating/connected with Dvāravatī)

• उभयोः: of both
• उभयोः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उभ (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), द्विवचन

• संगमः: meeting / confluence
• संगमः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संगम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, देशवाचक-सम्बन्ध (where)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, देशवाचक (there)

• मुक्तिः: liberation
• मुक्तिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• न: not / no
• न: Sambandha/Negation (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (particle of negation)

• संशयः: doubt
• संशयः: Pradhana-predicative (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Liberation is assured where Viṣṇu’s tangible sacred presence (Śālagrāma) and His abode-form (Dvārakā) are jointly honored.

Vedantic Theme: Grace (anugraha) mediated through saguna symbols; tīrtha and arcā as supports that turn the mind toward Brahman.

Application: Keep Śālagrāma worship with purity and devotion; undertake Dvārakā-yātrā or mentally unite both through daily pūjā and remembrance.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: tirtha

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.66 (tīrtha and Viṣṇu-devotion sequence)

Characters & Entities

• Shalagrama
• Dvaraka (Dvaravati)
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of Śālagrāma in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats Śālagrāma as a direct emblem of Viṣṇu whose presence, especially when linked with the Lord of Dvārakā, is said to be a sure cause of mokṣa.

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

It frames mokṣa as attainable through Viṣṇu-sambandha—devotional connection to the Lord—symbolized by the meeting of Śālagrāma (aniconic Viṣṇu) and Dvārakā’s Lord, indicating concentrated Viṣṇu-bhakti and sacred association.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate Viṣṇu-bhakti through reverent Śālagrāma worship (where traditionally appropriate), remembrance of Dvārakā/Kṛṣṇa, and pilgrimage or mental contemplation of such tirthas—using these practices to orient life toward liberation.