Shloka 126

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

with Dāna-Lakṣaṇas

Devanagari script

तत्र स्नानं प्रकर्तव्यं दातव्यं दानमुत्तमम् / शिशुमारं च मत्स्यं च त्रिविक्रममथापि वा / दातव्यं भूतिकामेन तीर्थेस्मिन्विरवर्णिनि

Transliteration

tatra snānaṃ prakartavyaṃ dātavyaṃ dānamuttamam / śiśumāraṃ ca matsyaṃ ca trivikramamathāpi vā / dātavyaṃ bhūtikāmena tīrthesminviravarṇini

Translation

Dort soll man gewiss das heilige Bad vollziehen und die erhabenste Gabe darbringen. Man kann (ein Bild oder Sinnbild) von Śiśumāra, vom Fisch (Matsya) oder auch von Trivikrama spenden. Wer Gedeihen begehrt, o du von edler Erscheinung, soll in dieser Tīrtha solche Gaben geben.

Word by Word

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb)

• स्नानम्: bathing
• स्नानम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (Nom/Acc sg)

• प्रकर्तव्यम्: should be done
• प्रकर्तव्यम्: विधेय (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र√कृ (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृत्प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त (तव्यत्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; विधेय/आवश्यकता (gerundive: ‘to be done’)

• दातव्यम्: should be given
• दातव्यम्: विधेय (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (√दा, धातु) + तव्यत् (कृत्प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त (तव्यत्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; विधेय/आवश्यकता (gerundive: ‘to be given’)

• दानम्: gift/charity
• दानम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (Nom/Acc sg)

• उत्तमम्: excellent
• उत्तमम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; विशेषण (superlative adjective)

• शिशुमारम्: (image of) Śiśumāra
• शिशुमारम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिशुमार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन (Acc sg)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक निपात (conjunction)

• मत्स्यम्: (image of) Fish (Matsya)
• मत्स्यम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत्स्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन (Acc sg)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक निपात (conjunction)

• त्रिविक्रमम्: (image of) Trivikrama
• त्रिविक्रमम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि + विक्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन (Acc sg); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/उपपद-समास (name: ‘having three strides’)

• अथ: then
• अथ: सम्बन्ध (Discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक (then/now)

• अपि: also
• अपि: सम्बन्ध (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/समुच्चय (also/even)

• वा: or
• वा: समुच्चय/विकल्प (Alternative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक (or)

• दातव्यम्: should be given
• दातव्यम्: विधेय (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (√दा, धातु) + तव्यत् (कृत्प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त (तव्यत्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; विधेय/आवश्यकता

• भूतिकामेन: by one desiring prosperity
• भूतिकामेन: कर्ता (Karta/Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूति + काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया एकवचन (Instr sg); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘desiring prosperity’)

• तीर्थे: in the sacred ford/place
• तीर्थे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी एकवचन (Loc sg)

• अस्मिन्: in this
• अस्मिन्: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी एकवचन (Loc sg)

• विरवर्णिनि: in Viravarṇinī (named place)
• विरवर्णिनि: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विरवर्णिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी एकवचन (Loc sg); विशेषण (qualifying ‘tīrtha’)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Tīrtha-snāna and prescribed dāna (icons/representations) yield bhūti (prosperity) and merit when done at the proper sacred place.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-yoga orientation: sanctified action offered within a sacred framework; symbolic gifts align the donor with cosmic order (śiśumāra/cosmic form) and avatāra grace (Matsya, Trivikrama).

Application: Perform charity with clear intention and reverence—support temples, sacred learning, water conservation/cleaning projects; pair giving with personal purification and prayer.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: tirtha (sacred ford)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.26 (Vāruṇa-tīrtha prescriptions; list of acceptable dāna items)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Trivikrama
• Matsya
• Śiśumāra
• Tīrtha

FAQs

What is the importance of tirtha-snana and dana in the Garuda Purana?

This verse teaches that bathing at a sacred place and giving charity there is an “uttama” (supreme) act, producing auspicious merit and supporting prosperity-oriented dharma.

Why does the verse mention Śiśumāra, Matsya, and Trivikrama as donations?

They are sacred Viṣṇu-associated forms; donating their representations functions as devotional charity, linking tīrtha practice with Viṣṇu-upāsanā and merit-making.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When visiting a pilgrimage site, combine a mindful bath/ablution with purposeful charity—especially devotional giving connected to dharma—rather than treating the visit as mere travel.