Shloka 24

Jāmbavatī’s Vaiṣṇava-Ācāra: Grace, Sense-Consecration, and Pilgrimage to Śrīnivāsa on Veṅkaṭādri

Devanagari script

यो वाहने तुरगे चोपविष्टस्तीर्थाटनं कुरुते चार्धहीनम् / वृषादीनां वाहने पादमाहुः परान्नानां भोजने व्यर्थमाहुः

Transliteration

yo vāhane turage copaviṣṭastīrthāṭanaṃ kurute cārdhahīnam / vṛṣādīnāṃ vāhane pādamāhuḥ parānnānāṃ bhojane vyarthamāhuḥ

Translation

乗り物や馬に座して巡礼する者は、その功徳は半ばにとどまる。牛などに乗れば、得るは四分の一と言われる。また他人より施された食を口にすることは、むなしく果なしと宣される。

Word by Word

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• वाहने: on a vehicle
• वाहने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाहन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• तुरगे: on a horse
• तुरगे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तुरग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

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

• उपविष्टः: seated
• उपविष्टः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-विश् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘seated’

• तीर्थाटनम्: pilgrimage-going
• तीर्थाटनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ + अटन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (तीर्थस्य अटनम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• कुरुते: does/performs
• कुरुते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

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

• अर्धहीनम्: half-deficient
• अर्धहीनम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अर्ध + हीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (अर्धेन हीनम् = half-deficient); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying तीर्थाटनम्)

• वृषादीनाम्: of bulls and the like
• वृषादीनाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृष + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समाहार/समुच्चयार्थ ‘आदि’; षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; ‘of bulls etc.’

• वाहने: on a vehicle
• वाहने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाहन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• पादम्: a quarter/one part
• पादम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आहुः: they say
• आहुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• परान्नानाम्: of others' food
• परान्नानाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर + अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (परम् अन्नम्); षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• भोजने: in eating
• भोजने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• व्यर्थम्: futile
• व्यर्थम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्यर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; (elliptically) ‘as futile’

• आहुः: they say
• आहुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Comfort-seeking travel reduces tapas-fruit; dependence on others’ food (as handout) is censured as undermining the pilgrimage’s purpose.

Vedantic Theme: Aparigraha and tapas: minimizing dependence and indulgence supports inner freedom; intention and discipline shape karma-phala.

Application: Prefer simpler travel when undertaking religious vows; practice mindful eating and avoid exploitative dependence; accept hospitality with humility and reciprocity rather than entitlement.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Geographic Context

Type: journey route and alms/food context

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: general emphasis on disciplined conduct during vows, and critique of hypocrisy/indulgence in religious acts (thematic link)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Tirthas

FAQs

What is the importance of walking during tirtha yatra in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that pilgrimage done while seated on a mount/horse yields reduced merit (half, or even a quarter on certain mounts), implying that personal effort and austerity (walking) are integral to full spiritual fruit.

How does this verse explain merit (punya) in ritual practice?

It frames punya as dependent not only on the destination (tirtha) but also on the manner of practice—comfort-seeking reduces the intended tapas, thereby diminishing the result.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When undertaking sacred vows or pilgrimages, prioritize simplicity and effort; avoid turning spiritual practice into convenience-only travel, and be mindful about dependency on others’ provisions when it compromises discipline.