Shloka 36

Dāna-vrata and the Tīrtha Circuit of Venkaṭādri

Snāna, Mantra, Naivedya

Devanagari script

इदं हि परमाख्यानं वेङ्कटाद्रेर्महागिरेः / को वा वर्णयितुं शक्तो मदन्यः पुरुषो भुवि

Transliteration

idaṃ hi paramākhyānaṃ veṅkaṭādrermahāgireḥ / ko vā varṇayituṃ śakto madanyaḥ puruṣo bhuvi

Translation

This indeed is the supreme sacred account of the great mountain Veṅkaṭādri. Who else on earth, other than me, is capable of describing it?

Word by Word

• idam: this
• idam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun

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

• parama-ākhyānam: the supreme account
• parama-ākhyānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक) + ākhyāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (‘supreme’ + ‘narrative’)

• veṅkaṭa-adreḥ: of Veṅkaṭa mountain
• veṅkaṭa-adreḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: veṅkaṭa (प्रातिपदिक) + adri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘Veṅkaṭa’ + ‘mountain’)

• mahā-gireḥ: of the great mountain
• mahā-gireḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + giri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (‘great’ + ‘mountain’)

• kaḥ: who
• kaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; interrogative pronoun

• vā: indeed / else
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (disjunctive/emphatic particle: ‘indeed/else/or’)

• varṇayitum: to describe
• varṇayitum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Infinitive complement)
• Type: Verb
• Root: varṇ (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), ‘to describe’

• śaktaḥ: able
• śaktaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śakta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) < śak (धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त)

• mat-anyaḥ: other than me
• mat-anyaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘other than me’)

• puruṣaḥ: person
• puruṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• bhuvi: on earth
• bhuvi: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhū (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Kṣetra-māhātmya and śraddhā in the sanctity of the Lord’s abode; reverent reception of sacred narration (ākhyāna).

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara as the supreme refuge manifest in a consecrated locus; śraddhā as a gateway to grace.

Application: Approach sacred places and their narratives with humility; listen/recite kṣetra-māhātmya with faith, avoiding casual or dismissive speech about the tīrtha.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: sacred mountain (kshetra-giri)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (likely Uttara/Ācāra-kāṇḍa): kṣetra-māhātmya passages on Veṅkaṭādri/Śrīnivāsa; subsequent verses 3.27.37–40 on naivedya, secrecy, and gradation (tāratamya).

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Venkatadri

FAQs

What is the importance of Venkatadri in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames Venkaṭādri’s glory as a “paramākhyāna” (supreme account), presenting it as exceptionally sacred and difficult to fully express, elevating its tīrtha-mahātmyam within the Purāṇic tradition.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by emphasizing an exalted sacred narrative and place (Venkaṭādri), it points to bhakti and tīrtha-oriented devotion as spiritually transformative supports for the jīva’s upliftment, though it does not detail afterlife mechanics here.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Approach sacred texts and holy places with humility: recognize that spiritual greatness can exceed ordinary description, and cultivate devotion, reverence, and disciplined practice when engaging with tīrthas and Purāṇic teachings.