Shloka 11
Veṅkaṭācala Māhātmya: Bhakti-Lakṣaṇa, Nārasiṁha-tīrtha, and the Secret Darśana-Vidhi of Śrīnivāsa
संदोहवद्दृश्यते वै प्रकाशो मिथ्यावतां दृश्यते श्रीनिवासः / पाषाणवन्नैल्यरूपप्रकाशः शिलामात्रे दृष्यते वै कलौ च
saṃdohavaddṛśyate vai prakāśo mithyāvatāṃ dṛśyate śrīnivāsaḥ / pāṣāṇavannailyarūpaprakāśaḥ śilāmātre dṛṣyate vai kalau ca
Se percibe en verdad un resplandor como un cúmulo compacto; mas para quienes tienen visión extraviada, Śrīnivāsa es percibido sólo de modo erróneo. Su manifestación brilla con un tono azul oscuro, como piedra; y en la era de Kali muchos lo ven meramente como una losa de piedra (un ídolo).
Lord Vishnu (Śrīnivāsa), instructing Garuda (Vinata-putra)
Concept: Viparyaya-darśana (mistaken seeing): without right understanding and devotion, one perceives only ‘stone’ and misses the living presence; the Lord’s śyāma (dark-blue) radiance is misconstrued as inert matter.
Vedantic Theme: Nāma-rūpa and adhyāsa: superimposition of inertness on the conscious Lord; need for śraddhā and viveka to pierce appearances.
Application: When engaging in image-worship, consciously invoke the deity’s presence (āvāhana-bhāva), study meaning, and cultivate reverence; avoid cynicism and purely external ritualism.
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa
Type: mandira-pratima
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.24.9-10 (gradation of perception; aparokṣa vs distant seeing)
FAQs
This verse stresses that without right understanding, people mistake the Lord’s presence and reduce the divine to mere material appearance, weakening authentic devotion.
It describes Kali-yuga as a time when deluded perception dominates, so the Lord’s radiance and presence are not grasped properly and are seen only superficially—as stone.
Approach worship with correct knowledge and reverence—seeing the deity not as mere matter but as a living focus for devotion, ethics, and inner transformation.