Shloka 41

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

with Dāna-Lakṣaṇas

Devanagari script

तद्दर्शनादेव कन्ये यान्ति पापानि भस्मसात् / एकैकस्नानमात्रेण सत्संगो भवति ध्रुवम्

Transliteration

taddarśanādeva kanye yānti pāpāni bhasmasāt / ekaikasnānamātreṇa satsaṃgo bhavati dhruvam

Translation

Ô jeune fille, rien qu’en contemplant cette présence sacrée, les péchés sont réduits en cendres. Par un seul bain en ce lieu, on obtient assurément le satsanga, la compagnie des justes.

Word by Word

• tat-darśanāt: from seeing that (place/deity)
• tat-darśanāt: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + darśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5), एकवचन; अपादान/हेतु-अर्थ (from/through the seeing of that)

• eva: indeed
• eva: Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक

• kanye: O maiden
• kanye: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kanyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन; vocative address

• yānti: go/vanish
• yānti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √yā (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• pāpāni: sins
• pāpāni: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन

• bhasmasāt: to ashes; completely
• bhasmasāt: Gati/Result (गति/फल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bhasman (प्रातिपदिक) + sāt (अव्यय-प्रत्ययार्थ)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्यय (adverbial) = ‘to ashes/into ash-state’

• eka-eka-snāna-mātreṇa: by merely one bath
• eka-eka-snāna-mātreṇa: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक) + eka (प्रातिपदिक) + snāna (प्रातिपदिक) + mātra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; करण (instrumental): ‘by merely a single bath (each time)’

• sat-saṅgaḥ: holy company
• sat-saṅgaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sat (प्रातिपदिक) + saṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; ‘association with the good’

• bhavati: arises/becomes
• bhavati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• dhruvam: certainly
• dhruvam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhruva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (adverbial accusative) = certainly

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra in the Preta Kanda narrative)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Darśana and tīrtha-snāna purify and draw one into sat-saṅga, which becomes the gateway to higher realization.

Vedantic Theme: Sādhana-catuṣṭaya support: śuddhi (purification) leading to satsaṅga and readiness for jñāna.

Application: Seek holy company and approach tīrthas with reverence; treat pilgrimage as a means to cultivate virtue and disciplined living, not as a mechanical expiation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: tīrtha (sacred ford/bathing place)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.26.42 (sat-saṅga → jñāna → mokṣa); Garuda Purana 3.26.43 (critique of ‘mere bath gives mokṣa’)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of darśana and snāna in Garuda Purana?

This verse states that simply having darśana of the sacred (tīrtha or holy presence) burns sins to ashes, and even one ritual bath there reliably grants sat-saṅga—uplifting association that accelerates spiritual purification.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in Garuda Purana?

In the Preta Kanda’s framework, purification of pāpa is crucial for easing post-death transitions and avoiding harsher consequences; the verse highlights accessible means—darśana and tīrtha-snāna—that reduce karmic burden and align one with dharmic company.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Seek uplifting company (satsanga), visit sacred spaces with reverence, and practice symbolic purification (bathing, vows, ethical restraint) as a way to reduce harmful habits and strengthen dharmic living.