Shloka 35
The Prayers of the Personified Vedas (Śruti-stuti) and the Indescribable Absolute
भुवि पुरुपुण्यतीर्थसदनान्यृषयो विमदा- स्त उत भवत्पदाम्बुजहृदोऽघभिदङ्घ्रिजला: । दधति सकृन्मनस्त्वयि य आत्मनि नित्यसुखे न पुनरुपासते पुरुषसारहरावसथान् ॥ ३५ ॥
bhuvi puru-puṇya-tīrtha-sadanāny ṛṣayo vimadās ta uta bhavat-padāmbuja-hṛdo ’gha-bhid-aṅghri-jalāḥ dadhati sakṛn manas tvayi ya ātmani nitya-sukhe na punar upāsate puruṣa-sāra-harāvasathān
ഈ ഭൂമിയിൽ അഹങ്കാരമില്ലാത്ത ഋഷിമാർ അനേകം പുണ്യതീർത്ഥങ്ങളെയും, പരമേശ്വരൻ ലീലകൾ പ്രകടിപ്പിച്ച സ്ഥലങ്ങളെയും സന്ദർശിച്ച് അവിടെയായി വസിക്കുന്നു. അവർ നിന്റെ പദ്മപാദങ്ങളെ ഹൃദയത്തിൽ ധരിക്കുന്നതിനാൽ, അവരുടെ പാദപ്രക്ഷാളനജലം പാപങ്ങളെ നശിപ്പിക്കുന്നു. ഒരിക്കൽ പോലും നിത്യസുഖസ്വരൂപനായ നിന്നിലേക്കു മനസ്സു തിരിക്കുന്നവൻ, മനുഷ്യന്റെ സദ്ഗുണങ്ങൾ കവർന്നെടുക്കുന്ന ഗൃഹജീവിതസേവയിൽ പിന്നെ ഏർപ്പെടുകയില്ല.
The qualification of an aspiring sage is that he has learned about the Absolute Truth from standard authorities and developed a sober mood of renunciation. To develop his capacity for discriminating the important from the unimportant, such a person often wanders from one holy site to another, taking advantage of the association of great souls who frequent or reside in these places. If, in the course of his travels, the aspiring sage can begin to realize the Supreme Lord’s lotus feet in the core of his heart, he will be released from the illusion of false ego and from the painful bondage of lust, envy and greed. Though he may still go to places of pilgrimage to bathe away his sins, the now purified sage has the power to sanctify others with the water that washes his feet and with the realized instructions he imparts. Such a sage is described by the Muṇḍaka Upaniṣad (2.2.9)
FAQs
It teaches that tīrthas become truly holy by the presence of humble sages devoted to the Lord’s lotus feet, who carry and distribute the purifying potency of His foot-wash (caraṇāmṛta).
The personified Vedas (Śrutis) are speaking, offering philosophical yet devotional prayers to the Supreme Lord (Hari/Paramātmā), glorifying bhakti as the highest realization beyond mere ritual or worldly religiosity.
Even a single sincere act of remembrance—through nāma-japa, hearing Bhāgavatam, or prayer—can reorient priorities away from temporary pursuits toward lasting spiritual happiness and steadiness.