Shloka 124
Pūjādi-kathana — Gaṅgā Vratas, Tenfold Worship, Stotra, and Mokṣa on the Riverbank
तीर्थे यः प्रतिगृह्णाति पुण्येष्वायतनेषु च । निष्फलं तस्य तत्तीर्थं यावत्तद्धनमुच्यते ॥ १२४ ॥
tīrthe yaḥ pratigṛhṇāti puṇyeṣvāyataneṣu ca | niṣphalaṃ tasya tattīrthaṃ yāvattaddhanamucyate || 124 ||
Pour celui qui accepte des dons dans un tīrtha et dans les sanctuaires saints, ce pèlerinage devient sans fruit—tant qu’on dit que cette richesse demeure avec lui.
Sage Narada (teaching within the Uttara-Bhaga tirtha discourse, traditionally framed in dialogue with Sanatkumara lineage)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
FAQs
It teaches that the spiritual fruit of visiting a tīrtha depends on purity of conduct; accepting gifts for personal gain in holy places undermines (or suspends) the merit of the pilgrimage.
Bhakti is strengthened by humility and non-possessiveness; the verse cautions that acquisitiveness at sacred sites distracts from God-centered devotion and weakens the inner fruit of worship and pilgrimage.
It aligns with Dharma-śāstra style rules of ācāra (right conduct) concerning dāna (giving) and pratigraha (accepting), guiding how ritual merit is preserved during tīrtha-yātrā and temple practice.