Shloka 54

Śrīnivāsa at Svāmipuṣkariṇī: Darśana, Stotra, the Secret Veṅkaṭeśa Mantra, and the Meaning of “Vyaṅkaṭeśa”

Devanagari script

वितस्तिकावेरिसतुङ्गभद्राः सुवञ्जरा भीमरथी विपाशा / सुताम्रपर्णी च पिनाकिनी च कु दृ

Transliteration

vitastikāverisatuṅgabhadrāḥ suvañjarā bhīmarathī vipāśā / sutāmraparṇī ca pinākinī ca ku dṛ

Translation

വിതസ്താ, കാവേരി, സതുങ്ഗഭദ്രാ, സുവഞ്ജരാ, ഭീമരഥീ, വിപാശാ, സുതാമ്രപർണി, പിനാകിനി—ഇവയും പുണ്യനദികൾ; സ്മരണീയങ്ങൾ।

Word by Word

• वितस्ता: Vitastā
• वितस्ता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वितस्ता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; नदीनाम

• कावेरी: Kāverī
• कावेरी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कावेरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; नदीनाम

• सतुङ्गभद्राः: (Sa)Tuṅgabhadrā / Tuṅgabhadrā (river; uncertain)
• सतुङ्गभद्राः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स-तुङ्ग-भद्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः/संयुक्तनाम; पाठ अनिश्चित (सम्भवतः 'तुंगभद्रा')

• सुवञ्जरा: Suvañjarā
• सुवञ्जरा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुवञ्जरा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; नदीनाम

• भीमरथी: Bhīmarathī
• भीमरथी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीमरथी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; नदीनाम

• विपाशा: Vipāśā (Beas)
• विपाशा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विपाशा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; नदीनाम

• सुताम्रपर्णी: Sutāmraparṇī / Tāmrāparṇī (river)
• सुताम्रपर्णी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु-ताम्रपर्णी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (सु + ताम्रपर्णी)

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

• पिनाकिनी: Pinākinī
• पिनाकिनी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिनाकिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; नदीनाम/विशेषनाम

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

• कु: [truncated]
• कु: Unknown (अनिश्चित)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कु (अव्यय/अपूर्णपाठ)
• Form: अपूर्ण/भ्रष्टपाठ (truncated reading); सम्भवतः 'कुर्वन्तु' का अंश

• दृ: [truncated]
• दृ: Unknown (अनिश्चित)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दृ (अव्यय/अपूर्णपाठ)
• Form: अपूर्ण/भ्रष्टपाठ (truncated reading); अर्थ/रूप अनिश्चित

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Universality of tirtha-punya: sanctity is not confined to one region; remembrance of many rivers supports purification and protection.

Vedantic Theme: Ekatva-bhava in sacredness—seeing the one purifying principle expressed through many forms.

Application: Include local rivers in daily prayers; cultivate gratitude and responsibility toward regional water sources.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: sacred rivers

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.25.53 (major rivers); Garuda Purana 3.25.55 (sacred waters/pools)

Characters & Entities

• Vitastā
• Kāverī
• Vipāśā
• Tāmraparṇī
• Pinākinī

FAQs

What is the importance of sacred rivers in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents a remembrance-list of revered rivers, emphasizing tīrtha as a means of purification and merit (puṇya), often connected in the Purana to rites for the departed and spiritual cleansing.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana death rituals like śrāddha and piṇḍa-dāna?

By naming tīrthas, the text supports the idea that bathing, offerings, or śrāddha performed in or with sanctified waters is especially efficacious for preta-śānti and ancestral benefit.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Keep tīrtha-reverence alive by using clean, consecrated water in śrāddha/ancestral rites, remembering sacred rivers with devotion, and living with purity and restraint that the Purana associates with true sanctity.