Shloka 53

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

with Dāna-Lakṣaṇas

Devanagari script

तथैव तीर्थे दुर्लभं तत्र देवि शालग्रामस्य द्विजवर्ये च दानम् / जंबूफलाकारसुनीलवर्णं मुखद्वयं चक्रचतुष्टयान्वितम्

Transliteration

tathaiva tīrthe durlabhaṃ tatra devi śālagrāmasya dvijavarye ca dānam / jaṃbūphalākārasunīlavarṇaṃ mukhadvayaṃ cakracatuṣṭayānvitam

Translation

De même, ô Déesse, en un lieu de pèlerinage il est très rare d’obtenir le don d’un Śālagrāma à un brāhmane éminent. On le décrit comme ayant la forme d’un fruit de jambu, d’un bleu profond, doté de deux faces et marqué de quatre emblèmes de disque (cakra).

Word by Word

• तथा: thus
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (thus)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-निपात

• तीर्थे: in the sacred place
• तीर्थे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• दुर्लभम्: rare
• दुर्लभम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्लभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (rare)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय

• देवि: O देवी
• देवि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• शालग्रामस्य: of the Śālagrāma
• शालग्रामस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शालग्राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• द्विज-वर्ये: in/for a foremost Brahmin
• द्विज-वर्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (‘in/for an excellent Brahmin’)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• दानम्: the giving (gift)
• दानम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• जम्बूफल-आकार-सुनील-वर्णम्: jambu-fruit-shaped, deep-blue in color
• जम्बूफल-आकार-सुनील-वर्णम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जम्बूफल (प्रातिपदिक) + आकार (प्रातिपदिक) + सुनील (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (determinative): ‘having jambu-fruit shape and deep-blue color’

• मुख-द्वयम्: two-faced (having two mouths)
• मुख-द्वयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुख (प्रातिपदिक) + द्वय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—द्विगु (‘two faces/mouths’)

• चक्र-चतुष्टय-अन्वितम्: endowed with four chakras
• चक्र-चतुष्टय-अन्वितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चक्र (प्रातिपदिक) + चतुष्टय (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्वित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण; समासः—तत्पुरुष (‘endowed with a set of four discs’)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda; vocative 'devi' appears as a transmitted reading)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dāna gains special potency when the gift is sacred (Śālagrāma), the place is holy (tīrtha), and the recipient is worthy (dvija-varya).

Vedantic Theme: Sacred symbols (arcā/śālagrāma) as supports for devotion; dharmic action purified by right object, right place, right recipient.

Application: When giving, consider sanctity and suitability: offer meaningful, spiritually aligned gifts to qualified recipients with respect and correct understanding.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: tīrtha (pilgrimage place)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.26.51-52 (Vāyu-tīrtha merit and Bhāgavata-śravaṇa); Garuda Purana 3.26.54-55 (Janārdana form and mūrti-dāna; other rare gifts)

Characters & Entities

• Shalagrama
• Vishnu
• Brahmana (Dvija)

FAQs

What is the importance of Śālagrāma-dāna in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights Śālagrāma-dāna as a rare and highly meritorious act, especially when performed at a tīrtha and given to a worthy Brāhmaṇa.

How does this verse connect pilgrimage (tīrtha) and charity (dāna)?

It teaches that certain gifts—here, a Śālagrāma—gain heightened religious value in a tīrtha context, emphasizing sacred place plus right recipient as a powerful combination.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform charity with discernment: choose a meaningful sacred act, offer it in a spiritually mindful setting, and give to a genuinely qualified and ethical recipient.