Shloka 73

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

Devanagari script

मुख्यप्राणाधिष्ठितं स्थानमाप्य अपाविशत्तत्र देवी ह्युवाच / जैगीषव्यः श्रीनिवासस्य विष्णोः कथं कार्यं दर्शनं तद्वदस्व

Transliteration

mukhyaprāṇādhiṣṭhitaṃ sthānamāpya apāviśattatra devī hyuvāca / jaigīṣavyaḥ śrīnivāsasya viṣṇoḥ kathaṃ kāryaṃ darśanaṃ tadvadasva

Translation

Having reached the abode presided over by the chief vital-breath (mukhyaprāṇa), he entered it. There the Goddess indeed spoke: “O Jaigīṣavya, tell me—how is the auspicious vision (darśana) of Viṣṇu, the Lord who dwells in Śrī, to be attained?”

Word by Word

• मुख्य-प्राण-अधिष्ठितम्: presided over by Mukhyaprāṇa
• मुख्य-प्राण-अधिष्ठितम्: विशेषण (Qualifier of स्थानम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुख्य-प्राण-अधिष्ठित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः (मुख्यप्राणेन अधिष्ठितम्) तृतीया-तत्पुरुषः; कृदन्तः—क्त (past passive participle) from अधि-स्था (धातु √स्था)

• स्थानम्: place
• स्थानम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आप्य: having reached
• आप्य: पूर्वक्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आप्/अवाप् (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), पूर्वकाल (having reached/obtained)

• अपाविशत्: entered
• अपाविशत्: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-विश् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (imperfect/past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, देशवाचक

• देवी: the goddess
• देवी: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात (emphasis)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• जैगीषव्यः: O Jaigīṣavya
• जैगीषव्यः: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जैगीषव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन/प्रथमा, एकवचन (context: address)

• श्रीनिवासस्य: of Śrīnivāsa
• श्रीनिवासस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री-निवास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/genitive), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (श्रियाः निवासः)

• विष्णोः: of Viṣṇu
• विष्णोः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• कथम्: how?
• कथम्: प्रश्न (Interrogative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रश्नवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (interrogative adverb)

• कार्यम्: to be done
• कार्यम्: विधेय (Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) + यत् → कार्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्तव्य (gerundive)

• दर्शनम्: seeing, audience (darśana)
• दर्शनम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दर्शन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• वदस्व: tell (me)
• वदस्व: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Speaker

Devī (the Goddess)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Darśana of Viṣṇu is approached through right method (tāntra/vidhi) and earnest inquiry; prāṇa-centered sanctity hints at inner discipline supporting outer pilgrimage.

Vedantic Theme: Upāsanā aided by śraddhā and proper means (sādhana); the Lord as Śrīnivāsa (Śrī-sahita Nārāyaṇa) as the object of devotion.

Application: Adopt a learner’s posture: ask qualified teachers about the correct practice for darśana; cultivate prāṇa-samyama (steady breath, calm mind) alongside temple worship.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: sacred abode/inner precinct

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (bhakti/vidhi dialogues): question–answer format establishing darśana-vidhi

Characters & Entities

• Mukhyaprāṇa
• Devī
• Jaigīṣavya
• Viṣṇu (Śrīnivāsa)

FAQs

What is the importance of Viṣṇu-darśana in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames Viṣṇu’s darśana as a sought-after spiritual attainment, asked directly as a “kārya” (to be accomplished), implying it is a deliberate goal connected with higher realization and liberation.

How does this verse relate to prāṇa and the subtle body?

By mentioning an abode “presided over by mukhyaprāṇa,” the verse links spiritual progress to the governance of the vital force, a key concept in subtle-body (sūkṣma-śarīra) discussions found in Purāṇic and yogic contexts.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat spiritual growth as intentional practice: cultivate disciplined devotion and inner regulation (especially of prāṇa through prayer, breath-awareness, and sattvic living) while keeping the goal of divine remembrance and darśana central.