Shloka 37

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

Devanagari script

शेषाचलं समासाद्य ह्यन्नवस्त्रादिभूषणम् / यो न दद्यादभक्तः स ततः को नु परः पशुः

Transliteration

śeṣācalaṃ samāsādya hyannavastrādibhūṣaṇam / yo na dadyādabhaktaḥ sa tataḥ ko nu paraḥ paśuḥ

Translation

Having reached Śeṣācala, one should offer food, garments, and ornaments; but the faithless person who does not give—who could be more bestial than he?

Word by Word

• śeṣācalam: Śeṣācala (the sacred hill)
• śeṣācalam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śeṣa+acala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular; समास: śeṣa-acala (कर्मधारय ‘Śeṣa-mountain’, i.e., Śeṣācala)

• samāsādya: having reached/approached
• samāsādya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ā-sad (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्), ‘having approached/reached’

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), emphasis/indeed

• anna-vastra-ādi-bhūṣaṇam: food, clothing and other offerings
• anna-vastra-ādi-bhūṣaṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anna+vastra+ādi+bhūṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular; समास: (anna+vastra+ādi) (द्वन्द्व/समाहार as a list) + bhūṣaṇa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ‘ornament/gift consisting of food, clothing, etc.’)

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle

• dadyāt: should give
• dadyāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धातु)
• Form: Vidhiliṅ-lakāra (विधिलिङ्/Optative), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

• abhaktaḥ: a non-devotee
• abhaktaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: a+bhakta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular; privative a- (नञ्)

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular

• tataḥ: than that/therefore
• tataḥ: Hetu/Upamāna (हेतु/तुलना)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Ablatival adverb (तस्मात्-अर्थे अव्यय) ‘therefore/than that’

• kaḥ: who
• kaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Interrogative pronoun, Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular

• nu: indeed/then
• nu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nu (अव्यय)
• Form: Interrogative/emphatic particle (निपात)

• paraḥ: greater/other
• paraḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular; qualifies paśuḥ

• paśuḥ: beast/animal
• paśuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paśu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Bhakti must express itself as dāna/sevā at a sacred kṣetra; refusal born of lack of faith is dehumanizing.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara-sevā as purification of antaḥkaraṇa; non-attachment to possessions as a support for devotion.

Application: When visiting temples/tirthas, give according to capacity (food, clothing, support for pilgrims/priests/poor) with faith, not as mere display.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Geographic Context

Type: tirtha-kṣetra (sacred hill-temple)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.24.38-41 (seva, vandana, proper honoring of devotees and sacred beings)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Shesha
• Sheshachala

FAQs

What is the importance of dāna (charitable giving) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames giving—especially essentials like food and clothing at a holy place—as a core expression of dharma and devotion; refusing to give is condemned as a brutish, irreverent disposition.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it links devotion and generosity with spiritual refinement; the Purana repeatedly treats such virtues as supportive merits (puṇya) that strengthen one’s religious life and auspicious outcomes beyond this life.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice annadāna (feeding others), donate clothes/necessities, and support temples or pilgrim-services with sincerity—treating giving as a devotional duty rather than a social display.