Shloka 14
Veṅkaṭācala Māhātmya: Bhakti-Lakṣaṇa, Nārasiṁha-tīrtha, and the Secret Darśana-Vidhi of Śrīnivāsa
कुर्वन्ति यात्रां च तदर्थमेव भक्तिज्ञानं दुर्लभं वै कलौ च / भक्ता ये वै न विरक्ताः सदैव तेषां हरेर्दर्शनं दुर्लभं च
kurvanti yātrāṃ ca tadarthameva bhaktijñānaṃ durlabhaṃ vai kalau ca / bhaktā ye vai na viraktāḥ sadaiva teṣāṃ harerdarśanaṃ durlabhaṃ ca
People undertake pilgrimages only for that very worldly end; and in the Kali age, true knowledge born of bhakti is indeed rare. Even those called devotees, if they are never truly dispassionate (virāgya), for them the vision—direct realization—of Hari is also rare.
Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda)
Concept: Pilgrimage without inner transformation becomes worldly; bhakti-jñāna and Hari-darśana require dispassion (vairāgya).
Vedantic Theme: Sādhana-catuṣṭaya emphasis on vairāgya and viveka; aparokṣa-darśana is not produced by mere external acts.
Application: Undertake tīrtha-yātrā with vows of restraint, charity, and contemplation; pair external pilgrimage with inner practices (japa, svādhyāya, service) to cultivate vairāgya.
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: sacred site network
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.24.13 (pseudo-devotion); Garuda Purana 3.24.15 (nature of devotee)
FAQs
This verse states that without steady detachment, even “devotees” rarely attain Hari’s darśana; vairagya is presented as essential for devotion to mature into true realization.
It points to a common tendency in Kali Yuga: spiritual acts like pilgrimage are often done for worldly aims, which obstructs the rise of bhakti-jñāna (devotional wisdom).
Do pilgrimages and rituals with inner renunciation—reduce craving for results, cultivate steady devotion, and seek transformation rather than mere merit or status.