Shloka 92

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

with Dāna-Lakṣaṇas

Devanagari script

शालग्रामशिलादानं कर्तव्यं श्रोत्रियायवै / शालग्रामशिलादानं हत्याकोटिविनाशनम्

Transliteration

śālagrāmaśilādānaṃ kartavyaṃ śrotriyāyavai / śālagrāmaśilādānaṃ hatyākoṭivināśanam

Translation

Man soll einen Śālagrāma-Stein (Śālagrāma-śilā) einem gelehrten, vedakundigen Brāhmaṇa schenken. Die Gabe des Śālagrāma-Steins heißt es, vernichte selbst Krore von Sünde des Tötens.

Word by Word

• śālagrāmaśilādānam: gift of Shalagrama stone
• śālagrāmaśilādānam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śālagrāmaśilādāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• kartavyam: should be done
• kartavyam: Vidheya (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Tavya Pratyaya (Gerundive), Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• śrotriyāya: to a learned Brahmin
• śrotriyāya: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrotriya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular

• vai: indeed/verily
• vai: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle

• śālagrāmaśilādānam: gift of Shalagrama stone
• śālagrāmaśilādānam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śālagrāmaśilādāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• hatyākoṭivināśanam: destroyer of millions of sins (killings)
• hatyākoṭivināśanam: Vidheya (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hatyākoṭivināśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śālagrāma-dāna to a qualified recipient destroys even mahāpātaka-scale sin (homicide) through Viṣṇu-sambandha and proper dāna-vidhi.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara-anugraha mediated through bhakti and dharmic action; pāpa-kṣaya enabling sattva and spiritual progress.

Application: Offer Śālagrāma (with due purity, sankalpa, and dakṣiṇā) to a śrotriya brāhmaṇa; prioritize recipient-qualification and intention (śraddhā) in charitable acts.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.26 (dāna-mahātmyas around śilā/śālagrāma); Garuda Purana Pretakalpa themes: pāpa-kṣaya through dharma and Viṣṇu-smṛti

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Śālagrāma
• Śrotriya

FAQs

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

This verse presents Śālagrāma donation as a highly potent act of merit and expiation, especially when offered properly to a śrotriya (Veda-versed) recipient.

How does this verse relate to sins and their consequences described in the Garuda Purana?

By stating that Śālagrāma-śilā dāna destroys even vast measures of ‘hatyā’ sin, it frames dāna as a prāyaścitta that can lessen karmic burden relevant to post-death outcomes discussed in the Preta Kanda.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If undertaking religious giving, prioritize correctness of intention and worthy recipients (learned and disciplined), treating charity as a disciplined spiritual practice rather than mere display.