Shloka 132

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

with Dāna-Lakṣaṇas

Devanagari script

शालग्रामशिलादानं दुर्घटं च तथा स्मृताम् / स्वामिपुष्करिणीतीरे कन्यादानं सुदुर्घटम्

Transliteration

śālagrāmaśilādānaṃ durghaṭaṃ ca tathā smṛtām / svāmipuṣkariṇītīre kanyādānaṃ sudurghaṭam

Translation

Auch die Gabe des Śālagrāma-Steines gilt als schwer zu vollbringen; und eine Jungfrau am Ufer des heiligen Teiches des Herrn (Svāmipuṣkariṇī) zur Ehe zu geben ist überaus schwer und daher von höchstem Verdienst.

Word by Word

• शालग्राम-शिला-दानम्: gift of a Śālagrāma stone
• शालग्राम-शिला-दानम्: Karta (कर्ता) / Predicate subject
• Type: Noun
• Root: शालग्राम (प्रातिपदिक) + शिला (प्रातिपदिक) + दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (शालग्रामशिलायाः दानम्)

• दुर्घटम्: difficult
• दुर्घटम्: Vidhāna (विधान) / Predicate
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्घट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय/conjunction

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, manner-adverb (‘thus/likewise’)

• स्मृतम्: is said (to be)
• स्मृतम्: Vidhāna (विधान) / Predicate
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त) → स्मृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP) used predicatively; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; ‘is said/remembered’

• स्वामि-पुष्करिणी-तीरे: on the bank of Svāmi-puṣkariṇī
• स्वामि-पुष्करिणी-तीरे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वामिन् (प्रातिपदिक) + पुष्करिणी (प्रातिपदिक) + तीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7/Locative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (स्वामिपुष्करिण्याः तीरे)

• कन्या-दानम्: gift of a maiden (marriage-giving)
• कन्या-दानम्: Karta (कर्ता) / Predicate subject
• Type: Noun
• Root: कन्या (प्रातिपदिक) + दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (कन्यायाः दानम्)

• सु-दुर्घटम्: very difficult
• सु-दुर्घटम्: Vidhāna (विधान) / Predicate
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (अव्यय/उपसर्गवत्) + दुर्घट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; अव्ययीभाव (सुष्ठु दुर्घटम्)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (Śrī Hari) speaking to Garuda (Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dāna and saṃskāra performed at Viṣṇu-tīrthas are rare and highly meritorious; difficulty (durgahatā) signals elevated spiritual fruit.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara-sambandha (sanctification through relation to the Lord) and karma-yoga orientation—offering acts to the divine field.

Application: Undertake feasible forms of charity (especially Viṣṇu-related gifts) with right place/time, purity, and intention; support marriage rites and sacred gifting without ostentation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: tīrtha/pushkariṇī (sacred tank)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Dharma/Ācāra sections): tīrtha-māhātmya passages praising dāna at sacred waters; Garuda Purana: dāna-prakaraṇa themes—śālagrāma, go-dāna, anna-dāna as high puṇya

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu (Śālagrāma)
• Svāmipuṣkariṇī
• Kanyā (bride/daughter)

FAQs

What is the importance of Śālagrāma-śilā dāna in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats Śālagrāma-śilā dāna as a rare, difficult-to-perform gift, implying high spiritual merit because it is directly connected with Viṣṇu worship and sacred charity.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana context?

By highlighting difficult yet meritorious acts (like Śālagrāma dāna and kanyādāna at a sacred tīrtha), the text indicates that dharmic deeds and properly performed rites build puṇya that supports the soul’s post-death journey described in the Preta Kanda.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform charity with reverence (especially Viṣṇu-related worship and donations) and uphold dharmic family duties like marriage rites responsibly—doing so with purity of intent rather than mere display.