Shloka 102

Veṅkaṭācala Māhātmya: Bhakti-Lakṣaṇa, Nārasiṁha-tīrtha, and the Secret Darśana-Vidhi of Śrīnivāsa

Devanagari script

श्रीनिवासस्य वामे तु लक्ष्मीं च प्रणमेद्वुधः / श्रीनिवासस्य सव्ये तु धरायै प्रणमेच्छुभे

Transliteration

śrīnivāsasya vāme tu lakṣmīṃ ca praṇamedvudhaḥ / śrīnivāsasya savye tu dharāyai praṇamecchubhe

Translation

The wise should bow to Lakṣmī, who stands on the left of Śrīnivāsa; and on Śrīnivāsa’s right, one should reverently bow to auspicious Dharā (Bhūdevī).

Word by Word

• श्री-निवासस्य: of Śrīnivāsa
• श्री-निवासस्य: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Locative sense via genitive: 'of/at')
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक) + निवास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• वामे: on the left (side)
• वामे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; स्थानवाचक (locative of place)

• तु: but, indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थक (contrast/emphasis)

• लक्ष्मीम्: Lakṣmī
• लक्ष्मीम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• प्रणमेत्: should bow to
• प्रणमेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √नम् (धातु) + प्र (उपसर्ग)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• बुधः: the wise person
• बुधः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• श्री-निवासस्य: of Śrīnivāsa
• श्री-निवासस्य: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Context)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक) + निवास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• सव्ये: on the right (side)
• सव्ये: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; स्थानवाचक

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• धरायै: to Dharā (Earth-goddess)
• धरायै: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/Dative recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धरा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन

• प्रणमेत्: should bow
• प्रणमेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √नम् (धातु) + प्र (उपसर्ग)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• शुभे: in the auspicious (place)
• शुभे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; विशेषणरूपेण (as qualifier, possibly 'in auspicious [place/side]')

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śrīnivāsa is approached with reverence to his inseparable consorts—Śrī (prosperity/grace) and Bhū (support/steadfastness).

Vedantic Theme: Śakti-śaktimān abheda in devotional practice; the Lord as the locus of auspiciousness (śrī) and sustaining power (bhū).

Application: In pūjā/dhyāna, visualize Lakṣmī on the left and Bhūdevī on the right of Viṣṇu; offer namaskāra in that order to cultivate steadiness and gratitude.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: temple sanctum / deity-seat (pīṭha) context

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.24.105-106 (directional salutations to Vyūhas); Garuda Purana 3.24.103-104 (pīṭha-bāhya guardians/ulkās)

Characters & Entities

• Shrinivasa (Vishnu)
• Lakshmi
• Dhara (Bhudevi)

FAQs

What is the importance of bowing to Lakshmi and Bhudevi in the Garuda Purana?

This verse teaches proper devotional orientation around Śrīnivāsa (Viṣṇu): honoring Lakṣmī and Dharā (Bhūdevī) alongside Him as integral to auspicious worship and dharmic conduct.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it emphasizes correct worship and reverence for divine powers (prosperity and earth/support), which the Garuda Purana often links to dharma and beneficial outcomes for one’s spiritual destiny.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

During Viṣṇu pūjā or temple darśana, mentally (or physically) offer praṇāma to Lakṣmī and Bhūdevī with Viṣṇu, cultivating gratitude, humility, and dharmic living.