Shloka 45

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

with Dāna-Lakṣaṇas

Devanagari script

वायुतीर्थं च तत्प्रोक्तं हस्तद्वादशकान्तरम् / हस्तषट्कप्रमाणं च पश्चिमे समुदाहृतम् / उत्तरे हस्तषट्कं तु वायुतीर्थमुदाहृतम्

Transliteration

vāyutīrthaṃ ca tatproktaṃ hastadvādaśakāntaram / hastaṣaṭkapramāṇaṃ ca paścime samudāhṛtam / uttare hastaṣaṭkaṃ tu vāyutīrthamudāhṛtam

Translation

Ce lieu est proclamé Vāyu-tīrtha, avec un intervalle de douze hastas (mesures de main). Du côté ouest, son étendue est dite de six hastas, et du côté nord aussi, six hastas sont décrits comme Vāyu-tīrtha.

Word by Word

• वायुतीर्थम्: the Vāyu-tīrtha
• वायुतीर्थम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु-तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक; वायु + तीर्थ)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन; Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: वायोः तीर्थम्)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

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

• प्रोक्तम्: is declared
• प्रोक्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-वच् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘said/declared’

• हस्तद्वादशक-अन्तरम्: having an interval of twelve hands
• हस्तद्वादशक-अन्तरम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हस्त-द्वादशक-अन्तर (प्रातिपदिक; हस्त + द्वादशक + अन्तर)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; Tatpuruṣa (द्विगु-आश्रितः: द्वादशकं हस्तानां अन्तरम्)

• हस्तषट्क-प्रमाणम्: a measure of six hands
• हस्तषट्क-प्रमाणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्त-षट्क-प्रमाण (प्रातिपदिक; हस्त + षट्क + प्रमाण)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; Tatpuruṣa (षट्कं हस्तानां प्रमाणम्)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• पश्चिमे: in the west
• पश्चिमे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पश्चिम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative)

• समुदाहृतम्: is stated
• समुदाहृतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-उद्-आ-हृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘is stated/mentioned’

• उत्तरे: in the north
• उत्तरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative)

• हस्तषट्कम्: six hands (measure)
• हस्तषट्कम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्त-षट्क (प्रातिपदिक; हस्त + षट्क)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्विगुसमासः (षट् हस्ताः)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषबोधक-अव्यय (particle: but/indeed)

• वायुतीर्थम्: the Vāyu-tīrtha
• वायुतीर्थम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु-तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः

• उदाहृतम्: is declared
• उदाहृतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्-आ-हृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘is declared’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Sacred places have maryādā (defined bounds); correct practice depends on accurate knowledge of place and procedure.

Vedantic Theme: Outer order supports inner order: niyama and precision in sādhana as aids to steadiness and śraddhā.

Application: Respect designated sacred zones; follow local injunctions and traditional measurements/markers; avoid casual encroachment or improvisation in ritual contexts.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: measured sub-area (parimāṇa) within a tīrtha

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.26.44 (Vāyu’s worship at the vāyu-koṇa)

Characters & Entities

• Vayu

FAQs

What is the importance of Vāyu-tīrtha in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

This verse treats Vāyu-tīrtha as a precisely defined sacred area, implying that correct spatial designation is part of proper ritual performance in the Preta-kāṇḍa context.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by prescribing exact tīrtha measurements, it emphasizes disciplined rite-setting for post-death observances that are taught to support the departed (preta) through the transitional journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing śrāddha or related rites, follow a qualified tradition/priestly guidance for selecting and defining the ritual space, since the text highlights precision (hasta-measures) in tīrtha layout.