Shloka 104

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

with Dāna-Lakṣaṇas

Devanagari script

ह्रस्वं तथा वर्तुलं नीलवर्णं सूक्ष्मं मुखं मुखचक्रं सुशुद्धम् / सुवेणुयुक्तं वासुदेवाभिधेयं दानं कलौ दुर्लभं तस्य भद्रे

Transliteration

hrasvaṃ tathā vartulaṃ nīlavarṇaṃ sūkṣmaṃ mukhaṃ mukhacakraṃ suśuddham / suveṇuyuktaṃ vāsudevābhidheyaṃ dānaṃ kalau durlabhaṃ tasya bhadre

Translation

背丈は低く、形は円く、青き色を帯び、微妙にしてこの上なく清浄なる面相と、輝く面輪を具え、さらに笛を伴う—これが「ヴァースデーヴァ」と名づけられる施与である。おお吉祥なる者よ、カリの世においてこの布施は得難く、正しく行うことも難しい。

Word by Word

• hrasvam: short/small
• hrasvam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hrasva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; adjective (describing śilā/dāna implied)

• tathā: also/likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• vartulam: round
• vartulam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vartula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• nīla-varṇam: blue-colored
• nīla-varṇam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nīla (प्रातिपदिक) + varṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; कर्मधारय ‘blue-colored’

• sūkṣmam: subtle/fine
• sūkṣmam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sūkṣma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• mukham: face/mouth
• mukham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• mukha-cakram: the facial disc/circle
• mukha-cakram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mukha (प्रातिपदिक) + cakra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; तत्पुरुष (mukhasya cakram)

• suśuddham: very pure
• suśuddham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: suśuddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• su-veṇu-yuktam: endowed with a fine ‘veṇu’ mark
• su-veṇu-yuktam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (अव्यय) + veṇu (प्रातिपदिक) + yukta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; adjective; tatpurusha sense ‘endowed with a good veṇu/mark’; yukta as past participle used adjectivally

• vāsudeva-abhidheyam: called Vāsudeva
• vāsudeva-abhidheyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vāsudeva (प्रातिपदिक) + abhidheya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; adjective; तत्पुरुष ‘having the appellation Vāsudeva’

• dānam: the gift/charity
• dānam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• kalau: in the Kali age
• kalau: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kali (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; Kali-yuga

• durlabham: rare
• durlabham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: durlabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; agrees with dānam

• tasya: of that/its
• tasya: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; pronoun

• bhadre: O auspicious lady
• bhadre: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhadrā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (Vāsudeva) speaking to Garuda (Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Sacred form is recognized through lakṣaṇa; honoring and gifting the Vāsudeva-form (with veṇu, blue hue, pure mukha-cakra) is a rare bhakti-act in Kali-yuga.

Vedantic Theme: Arcā-avatāra accessibility: the infinite is approached through a consecrated sign/form; devotion is stabilized by recognizable sacred marks.

Application: Learn traditional criteria before venerating or donating sacred objects; cultivate reverence and correct understanding rather than superstition.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.26.105 (hearing the lakṣaṇa as alternative merit); Garuda Purana 3.26.103 (Śālagrāma-dāna as sudurlabha)

Characters & Entities

• Vāsudeva
• Kali-yuga

FAQs

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

This verse highlights a specific Vishnu-form gift (“Vāsudeva”) described by iconographic features; it is praised as spiritually potent yet rare to perform correctly in Kali-yuga, indicating its high merit among prescribed dānas.

How does this verse connect to Garuda Purana teachings on the soul’s journey after death?

In the Preta-kāṇḍa context, prescribed dānas support dharmic merit and are traditionally linked with easing post-death transitions and securing auspicious outcomes for the departed; this verse singles out a Vishnu-centered dāna as especially significant.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Prioritize sincere, dharmic charity connected to Vishnu worship—done with purity of intent and proper guidance—rather than mere display, since the text stresses that such true dāna is “durlabha” (hard to accomplish rightly) in Kali-yuga.