Shloka 42

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

Devanagari script

शालग्रामस्पर्शनं दुर्लभं च सद्वैष्णवानां दर्शनं दुर्लभं हि / गोस्पर्शनं दुर्लभं मर्त्यलोके सद्गायनं दुर्लभं सद्गुरुञ्च

Transliteration

śālagrāmasparśanaṃ durlabhaṃ ca sadvaiṣṇavānāṃ darśanaṃ durlabhaṃ hi / gosparśanaṃ durlabhaṃ martyaloke sadgāyanaṃ durlabhaṃ sadguruñca

Translation

മർത്ത്യലോകത്തിൽ ശാലഗ്രാമസ്പർശം ദുർലഭം; സദ്‌വൈഷ്ണവരുടെ ദർശനവും ദുർലഭം. ഗോസ്പർശവും ദുർലഭം; ഭക്തിയോടെ പാടുന്ന പവിത്രഗാനവും ദുർലഭം; സദ്‌ഗുരുവും ദുർലഭം.

Word by Word

• śālagrāma-sparśanam: touching the Śālagrāma stone
• śālagrāma-sparśanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śālagrāma (प्रातिपदिक) + sparśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (śālagrāmasya sparśanam)

• durlabham: rare, hard to obtain
• durlabham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: durlabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

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

• sat-vaiṣṇavānām: of the true Vaiṣṇavas
• sat-vaiṣṇavānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sat (प्रातिपदिक) + vaiṣṇava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (sat = good/true qualifying vaiṣṇava)

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

• durlabham: rare
• durlabham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: durlabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

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

• go-sparśanam: touching a cow
• go-sparśanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: go (प्रातिपदिक) + sparśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (gosya sparśanam)

• durlabham: rare
• durlabham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: durlabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• martya-loke: in the mortal world
• martya-loke: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: martya (प्रातिपदिक) + loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (martyānāṃ lokaḥ)

• sat-gāyanam: holy singing (of hymns)
• sat-gāyanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sat (प्रातिपदिक) + gāyana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (good/holy singing)

• durlabham: rare
• durlabham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: durlabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• sat-gurum: a true teacher (guru)
• sat-gurum: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sat (प्रातिपदिक) + guru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (true guru)

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

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Rarity of sacred touch and sight: touching Śālagrāma, seeing true Vaiṣṇavas, touching a cow, hearing/singing holy songs, and finding a genuine guru.

Vedantic Theme: Grace mediated through pratyakṣa supports (arcā/śālagrāma), satsanga, and guru; bhakti deepened by kīrtana and reverent contact with dharmic symbols (go).

Application: If available, honor Śālagrāma with purity and devotion; practice go-sevā; cultivate kīrtana/bhajana; seek a qualified sadguru and maintain regular darśana/satsanga.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: pilgrimage/temple-home threshold (implied)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.19.39 (satsanga with Hari-dāsas); Garuda Purana 3.19.41 (nāma-graha; worship of Vaiṣṇavas)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Śālagrāma
• Vaiṣṇavas
• Cow (Go)
• Sadguru

FAQs

What is the importance of Śālagrāma in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats Śālagrāma-sparśa as a rare and highly meritorious contact, implying that access to authentic Viṣṇu-centered worship and its sacred symbols is uncommon and spiritually precious.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Rather than describing punishments or Yama’s realm, it emphasizes the supportive causes of upliftment—true devotion, holy association (darśan of Vaiṣṇavas), sacred contact, and guidance by a real guru—seen as difficult to obtain yet crucial for spiritual progress.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Prioritize genuine satsanga, seek a trustworthy teacher, cultivate devotional singing/recitation, and engage respectfully with sacred traditions (such as Śālagrāma worship and go-sevā) as steady disciplines for dharmic living.