Shloka 125

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

with Dāna-Lakṣaṇas

Devanagari script

ततः परं महाभागे वारुणं तीर्थमुत्तमम् / तत्रास्ते वरुणो देवः पूजां कर्तुं हरेः सदा

Transliteration

tataḥ paraṃ mahābhāge vāruṇaṃ tīrthamuttamam / tatrāste varuṇo devaḥ pūjāṃ kartuṃ hareḥ sadā

Translation

Danach, o Hochbegnadete, folgt die vortreffliche Tīrtha namens Vāruṇa. Dort weilt der Gott Varuṇa, stets damit beschäftigt, Hari (Herrn Viṣṇu) zu verehren.

Word by Word

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: अधिकरण/क्रम (Context/sequence)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपादान/क्रमवाचक (from there/thereafter)

• परम्: next/further
• परम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययप्रयोग; क्रियाविशेषण (further/next)

• महाभागे: O fortunate lady
• महाभागे: सम्बोधन (Sambodhana/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाभागा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (महान् भागः यस्याः)

• वारुणम्: of Varuṇa
• वारुणम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वारुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘तीर्थम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• तीर्थम्: sacred ford/pilgrimage place
• तीर्थम्: कर्म (Karma/Object; described)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• उत्तमम्: excellent
• उत्तमम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘तीर्थम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (there)

• आस्ते: dwells/sits
• आस्ते: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present); प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; अर्थ: sits/dwells

• वरुणः: Varuṇa
• वरुणः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वरुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• देवः: the god
• देवः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject-apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘वरुणः’ इत्यस्य समानाधिकरण-विशेषण (appositional)

• पूजाम्: worship
• पूजाम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कर्तुम्: to perform
• कर्तुम्: प्रयोजन (Purpose/Infinitive complement)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्यय (infinitive); अर्थ: to do

• हरेः: of Hari (Viṣṇu)
• हरेः: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सदा: always
• सदा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (always)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Even Varuṇa, a major deva, is ever engaged in worship of Hari—modeling devotion and indicating Hari’s lordship.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara-sarvottamatva (Hari as supreme) and deva-bhakti as subordinate to Viṣṇu-bhakti; devotion as perpetual (nitya-pūjā).

Application: Adopt regular worship as a steady discipline; see all powers/forces (like waters/Varuṇa) as oriented toward the Divine source.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: tirtha (sacred ford)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.26 (tīrtha itinerary; praise of specific fords and their presiding deities)

Characters & Entities

• Varuna
• Hari (Vishnu)
• Garuda (addressed as mahābhāga)

FAQs

What is the importance of Varuna Tirtha in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents Vāruṇa Tīrtha as an “uttama” (supremely excellent) holy place, sanctified by Varuṇa’s continual worship of Hari, implying strong spiritual merit for those who approach it with devotion.

How does this verse connect pilgrimage (tirtha) with liberation-oriented practice?

By showing a deva (Varuṇa) constantly worshipping Hari at the tirtha, the text frames pilgrimage as a Vishnu-centered practice—purifying the mind and aligning one’s actions with dharma, which supports higher spiritual ends beyond mere worldly benefit.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat sacred places as opportunities for sincere Vishnu-bhakti: perform simple worship, cultivate purity and gratitude, and dedicate any ritual merit (including śrāddha intentions) toward spiritual uplift rather than display.