Shloka 43

Gradations of Bliss and Knowledge; Lakṣmī’s Special Insight; The Rarity of Bhakti in Kali-yuga; Nīlā’s Vow and Śrīnivāsa Darśana

Devanagari script

सद्भार्याः सत्पुत्रका दुर्लभा हि शेषाचलस्थस्य हरेश्च दर्शनम् / सुदुर्लभं रङ्गनाथस्य तीरे कावेर्या वै दर्शनं विष्णुपद्याः

Transliteration

sadbhāryāḥ satputrakā durlabhā hi śeṣācalasthasya hareśca darśanam / sudurlabhaṃ raṅganāthasya tīre kāveryā vai darśanaṃ viṣṇupadyāḥ

Translation

貞淑なる妻と立派な子らはまことに得難く、またセーシャーチャラ（Śeṣācala）に住まうハリ（Hari）のダルシャナ（聖なる拝観）も得難い。さらに稀なるは、カーヴェリー（Kāverī）の岸にてランガナータ（Raṅganātha）主を拝し、聖なるヴィシュヌパディー（Viṣṇupadī）の流れを拝観することである。

Word by Word

• sat-bhāryāḥ: good wives
• sat-bhāryāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sat (प्रातिपदिक) + bhāryā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (good wives)

• sat-putrakāḥ: good sons
• sat-putrakāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sat (प्रातिपदिक) + putraka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (good sons)

• durlabhāḥ: rare
• durlabhāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: durlabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (agreeing with sat-putrakāḥ; also predicative for both)

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात-अव्यय (emphasis)

• śeṣācala-sthasya: of the one situated on Śeṣācala
• śeṣācala-sthasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śeṣācala (प्रातिपदिक) + stha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन; सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषः (śeṣācale sthasya = situated on Śeṣācala)

• hareḥ: of Hari
• hareḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय

• darśanam: seeing, दर्शन
• darśanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: darśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• su-durlabham: very rare
• su-durlabham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + durlabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषणम्; सु- उपसर्गेण अतिशयः

• raṅganāthasya: of Raṅganātha
• raṅganāthasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: raṅganātha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन

• tīre: on the bank
• tīre: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन

• kāveryāḥ: of the Kāverī (river)
• kāveryāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāverī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• darśanam: seeing
• darśanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: darśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• viṣṇu-padyāḥ: of Viṣṇupadī (the sacred river)
• viṣṇu-padyāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक) + padī/padya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (viṣṇoḥ padyā = ‘Viṣṇu’s river/stream’, epithet of Kāverī)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Darśana-sevā of Viṣṇu and tīrtha-darśana are rare boons; worldly blessings (sadbhāryā, satputra) are also rare and should be aligned with devotion.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara-anugraha (divine grace) as the condition for meaningful encounter with the Lord; vairāgya through recognizing the scarcity of true goods.

Application: Treat family life as a dharmic support for bhakti; prioritize pilgrimage/darśana when possible; cultivate gratitude and humility rather than entitlement toward spiritual opportunities.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: tirtha/kshetra and riverbank

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.19 (tīrtha/darśana-mahātmyas, rarity motif across adjacent verses)

Characters & Entities

• Hari (Vishnu)
• Sheshachala
• Ranganatha
• Kaveri
• Vishnupadi (sacred river)

FAQs

What is the importance of darśana (sacred sight) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames darśana as a rare, high spiritual blessing—placing the vision of Vishnu and holy tirthas alongside the rare gifts of a virtuous spouse and worthy children, emphasizing devotion and merit.

How does this verse relate to dharma for a householder (gṛhastha)?

It links household dharma (a good spouse and virtuous offspring) with devotional dharma (seeking Vishnu’s darśana and sacred rivers), teaching that family life and spiritual pursuit should support each other.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate ethical family values, raise children with dharma, and regularly engage in Vishnu-bhakti—through temple worship, pilgrimage when possible, and reverence for sacred waters as reminders of purity and devotion.