Shloka 20

Dāna-vrata and the Tīrtha Circuit of Venkaṭādri

Snāna, Mantra, Naivedya

Devanagari script

अङ्गप्रदक्षिणं चक्रे भक्त्या वेङ्कटनायकम् / ब्राह्मणादीन्प्रीणयित्वा वस्त्रगन्धादिभूषणैः

Transliteration

aṅgapradakṣiṇaṃ cakre bhaktyā veṅkaṭanāyakam / brāhmaṇādīnprīṇayitvā vastragandhādibhūṣaṇaiḥ

Translation

भक्ति से उसने वेङ्कटनायक की साष्टांग प्रदक्षिणा की; और ब्राह्मणों आदि को वस्त्र, गंध और आभूषण देकर प्रसन्न करके आगे पूजन किया।

Word by Word

• अङ्ग-प्रदक्षिणम्: circumambulation with the body (full prostration-circumambulation)
• अङ्ग-प्रदक्षिणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रदक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (अङ्गस्य प्रदक्षिणम्)

• चक्रे: did / performed
• चक्रे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद-रूपम्

• भक्त्या: with devotion
• भक्त्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• वेङ्कटनायकम्: Venkatanayaka (Lord of Venkata)
• वेङ्कटनायकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेङ्कटनायक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• ब्राह्मण-आदीन्: Brahmins and others
• ब्राह्मण-आदीन्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (ब्राह्मणाः आदयः येषां ते)

• प्रीणयित्वा: having satisfied / having pleased
• प्रीणयित्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रीणय् (धातु, णिच्-प्रत्ययान्त causative of प्री)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), पूर्वकालिक-क्रिया; ‘having pleased’

• वस्त्र-गन्ध-आदि-भूषणैः: with ornaments such as clothes and perfumes
• वस्त्र-गन्ध-आदि-भूषणैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक) + भूषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; समासः (वस्त्रगन्धादीनि भूषणानि)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narration to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Bhakti is enacted through bodily worship (pradakṣiṇā) and dāna to worthy recipients; devotion and dharma reinforce each other.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-yoga within bhakti: offering actions and possessions in a spirit of service, reducing ahaṅkāra and mamakāra.

Application: In worship spaces, combine ritual reverence with concrete support for community needs (donations, supplies, respectful hospitality).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: hill-temple/pilgrimage shrine

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.27.19 (dāna and mantra-japa); Garuda Purana 3.27.18 (snāna as preparatory purity)

Characters & Entities

• Veṅkaṭanāyaka (Venkateśvara)
• Brāhmaṇas

FAQs

What is the importance of aṅga-pradakṣiṇa in the Garuda Purana context?

This verse presents aṅga-pradakṣiṇa as an intense form of bhakti—offering one’s whole body in reverence—indicating humility and surrender that generates religious merit.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana teachings on karma and merit?

By combining devotion (worship of Veṅkaṭanāyaka) with dana (gifts to brāhmaṇas and others), the verse reflects the Purāṇic model of accruing puṇya through both inner devotion and outward righteous giving.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice sincere devotion in worship, and pair it with ethical generosity—supporting learned/virtuous people and community needs through appropriate charity.