Shloka 100

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

with Dāna-Lakṣaṇas

Devanagari script

दानस्य शक्त्यभावे तु श्रोतव्यं लक्षणं हरेः / शालग्राम शिलादानाद्यत्फलं तत्फलं लभेत्

Transliteration

dānasya śaktyabhāve tu śrotavyaṃ lakṣaṇaṃ hareḥ / śālagrāma śilādānādyatphalaṃ tatphalaṃ labhet

Translation

Wenn aber die Kraft zum Almosengeben fehlt, soll man die heilige Beschreibung der Kennzeichen und Eigenschaften Haris hören (oder rezitieren); dadurch erlangt man denselben Verdienst wie durch die Gabe eines Śālagrāma-Steines und ähnliche Opfergaben.

Word by Word

• दानस्य: of giving/donation
• दानस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन (Genitive singular)

• शक्त्यभावे: in the absence of ability
• शक्त्यभावे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति + अभाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन (Locative singular)

• तु: then/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक-अव्यय (particle)

• श्रोतव्यम्: should be heard
• श्रोतव्यम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √श्रु (धातु) + तव्य (कृत्)
• Form: तव्यत्-कृदन्त (gerundive/obligative), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेय (to be heard)

• लक्षणम्: characteristic/mark
• लक्षणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• हरेः: of Hari (Vishnu)
• हरेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन (Genitive singular)

• शालग्रामशिला: the Śālagrāma stone
• शालग्रामशिला: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शालग्राम + शिला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन (as first member of compound phrase)

• दानात्: from the donation
• दानात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5), एकवचन (Ablative singular)

• यत्: whatever/which
• यत्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative)

• फलम्: fruit/result
• फलम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; निर्देशक

• फलम्: fruit/result
• फलम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• लभेत्: may obtain
• लभेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √लभ् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: When material charity is impossible, devotional hearing/recitation of Hari’s sacred characteristics grants equivalent spiritual merit.

Vedantic Theme: Primacy of inner disposition (bhāva) and śravaṇa-bhakti; grace makes dharma accessible beyond wealth.

Application: If unable to donate, attend recitations, study sacred descriptions, and listen with faith; support dharma through time/attention/service rather than money alone.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.26.98 (kośaka recitation); Garuda Purana 3.26.99 (rare dāna)

Characters & Entities

• Hari
• Shalagrama

FAQs

What does this Garuda Purana verse say to do if one cannot afford charity (dāna)?

It teaches that when charity is not financially possible, one should listen to or recite the sacred description/attributes of Hari (Viṣṇu), which yields comparable spiritual merit.

How is listening to Hari’s lakṣaṇa connected to ritual merit like Śālagrāma-dāna?

The verse equates the fruit (phala) of devoted śravaṇa of Viṣṇu’s attributes with the merit traditionally obtained by donating a Śālagrāma stone, emphasizing devotion as an accessible substitute when material offerings are impossible.

What is a practical application of this teaching today?

If you cannot give money or ritual gifts, practice sincere śravaṇa—attend recitations, read and hear Viṣṇu-stotras or Purāṇic passages, and dedicate the act as a devotional offering.