Shloka 124

Veṅkaṭeśa-Māhātmya: Varāha Prelude, Descent of Śeṣācala, Svāmipuṣkariṇī and the Network of Tīrthas

with Dāna-Lakṣaṇas

Devanagari script

स्नानं कृत्वा शेषतीर्थे विशुद्धेनैव चेतसा / एतेषां लक्षणं श्रुत्वा प्रयाति परमां गतिम्

Transliteration

snānaṃ kṛtvā śeṣatīrthe viśuddhenaiva cetasā / eteṣāṃ lakṣaṇaṃ śrutvā prayāti paramāṃ gatim

Translation

Après s’être baigné au saint Śeṣa-tīrtha avec l’esprit purifié, et après avoir entendu les marques distinctives de ces observances, on atteint l’état suprême.

Word by Word

• स्नानम्: bathing
• स्नानम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyāviśeṣaṇa/Converb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive); अर्थ: having done

• शेषतीर्थे: at the Śeṣa-tīrtha
• शेषतीर्थे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शेष + तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (शेषस्य तीर्थम्)

• विशुद्धेन: with purified
• विशुद्धेन: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विशुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘चेतसा’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण-निपात (only/indeed)

• चेतसा: with mind
• चेतसा: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चेतस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• एतेषाम्: of these
• एतेषाम्: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक; षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• लक्षणम्: characteristic/mark
• लक्षणम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyāviśeṣaṇa/Converb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund); अर्थ: having heard

• प्रयाति: goes/attains
• प्रयाति: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-या (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present); प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• परमाम्: supreme
• परमाम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘गतिम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• गतिम्: state/goal
• गतिम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śuddha-citta + tīrtha-snāna + śravaṇa of sacred marks/teachings leads to the highest state.

Vedantic Theme: Antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi as prerequisite for liberation; śravaṇa (hearing) as a primary limb of jñāna/bhakti leading toward paramā gati.

Application: Undertake pilgrimage or symbolic ‘tīrtha’ practice (ritual bath/ablution) with mental purity; regularly listen to/recite dharmic teachings with attention and faith.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: tirtha (sacred ford)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.26 (sequence of tīrthas; hearing ‘lakṣaṇa’ as efficacious)

Characters & Entities

• Shesha-tirtha
• Shesha

FAQs

What is the importance of tīrtha-snān (holy bathing) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that bathing at a sacred tīrtha—done with inner purity—supports attainment of the highest goal, showing that ritual is meant to be joined with a purified mind.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul toward the supreme destination (paramā gati)?

It links liberation-oriented progress to two essentials: purification (viśuddha-cetas) and śravaṇa—hearing the defining marks of dharma/observances—indicating that right understanding and inner cleanliness guide one upward.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat any ritual or pilgrimage practice as incomplete without mental purification: cultivate sincerity, restraint, and attentive listening/learning of dharma, so actions become spiritually transformative rather than merely external.