Shloka 99

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

with Dāna-Lakṣaṇas

Devanagari script

इन्द्रतीर्थे महादेवि सीताराम भिधाशिला / या तद्दानं दुर्लभं तन्नाल्पस्य तपसः फलम्

Transliteration

indratīrthe mahādevi sītārāma bhidhāśilā / yā taddānaṃ durlabhaṃ tannālpasya tapasaḥ phalam

Translation

O Große Göttin, bei Indra-tīrtha gibt es einen heiligen Stein, der als „Sītā–Rāma“ bekannt ist. Die Gabe oder Darbringung dieses Steines ist selten zu vollbringen; sie ist nicht die Frucht geringer Askese—nur großer Tapas führt zu solchem Verdienst.

Word by Word

• इन्द्रतीर्थे: at Indra-tīrtha
• इन्द्रतीर्थे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्र + तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन (Locative singular)

• महादेवि: O great goddess
• महादेवि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महादेवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन (Vocative singular)

• सीतारामाभिधाशिला: the stone called 'Sītā-Rāma'
• सीतारामाभिधाशिला: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सीता + राम + अभिधा + शिला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन (Nominative singular)

• या: which
• या: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन (relative pronoun; Nominative singular)

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

• दानम्: gift/donation
• दानम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• दुर्लभम्: rare
• दुर्लभम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्लभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषण

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

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation particle)

• अल्पस्य: of little (small)
• अल्पस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अल्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन; विशेषण (Genitive singular)

• तपसः: of austerity
• तपसः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन (Genitive singular)

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

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Extraordinary religious merit (puṇya) arises from rare sacred gifts and is proportionate to austerity (tapas) and spiritual effort.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala governed by dharma and inner qualification; tapas as purifier enabling higher acts of devotion/charity.

Application: If undertaking tīrtha-yātrā, approach with discipline (vows, purity, restraint); treat sacred offerings as responsibility, not display; cultivate tapas (fasting, truthfulness, simplicity) to qualify for higher dāna.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: tīrtha (sacred ford/pilgrimage site)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.26.100 (alternative merit via śravaṇa when dāna is impossible); Garuda Purana 3.26.97-98 (Sītā–Rāma identification and kośaka)

Characters & Entities

• Indra
• Sita
• Rama

FAQs

What is the importance of tirtha-dana (gifting at sacred places) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights that certain offerings at specific tīrthas—like the ‘Sītā–Rāma’ śilā at Indra-tīrtha—are considered exceptionally meritorious and are attainable only through substantial tapas, underscoring the high spiritual value of tīrtha-dāna.

How does this verse connect dana and tapas in the Garuda Purana’s framework of punya?

It states that the opportunity and merit of such a rare gift are not produced by minor effort; rather, significant austerity (tapas) ripens into circumstances and devotion that enable high-grade dāna and its resulting punya.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat charity and ritual giving as disciplined spiritual practice: give with sincerity, purity, and restraint, and pair donations with personal tapas such as self-control, truthfulness, and regular worship.