Shloka 116

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

with Dāna-Lakṣaṇas

Devanagari script

पाशिनैरृतयोर्मध्ये शेषतीर्थं परं स्मृतम् / तत्र स्नात्वा शेषमूर्तिं प्रददाति द्विजातये

Transliteration

pāśinairṛtayormadhye śeṣatīrthaṃ paraṃ smṛtam / tatra snātvā śeṣamūrtiṃ pradadāti dvijātaye

Translation

പാശിനരുടെ പ്രദേശവും നൈഋതരുടെ പ്രദേശവും തമ്മിൽ ‘ശേഷതീർത്ഥം’ എന്ന പരമ തീർത്ഥം സ്മരിക്കപ്പെടുന്നു. അവിടെ സ്നാനം ചെയ്ത് ദ്വിജനു (ബ്രാഹ്മണനു) ശേഷമൂർത്തി ദാനം ചെയ്യണം.

Word by Word

• पाशिनैः: by/with the pāśins (noose-bearers)
• पाशिनैः: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाशिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; Instrumental plural

• ऋतयोः: of the two ṛtis
• ऋतयोः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), द्विवचन; Genitive dual

• मध्ये: in the middle/between
• मध्ये: अधिकरण (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; Locative singular (adverbial use)

• शेषतीर्थम्: the Śeṣa-tīrtha (sacred ford of Śeṣa)
• शेषतीर्थम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शेष-तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nom/Acc singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (शेषस्य तीर्थम्)

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; agrees with शेषतीर्थम्

• स्मृतम्: is said/remembered (as)
• स्मृतम्: विधेय (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय, भूतकर्मणि/कर्मणि प्रयोग), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; past passive participle

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: अधिकरण (Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; स्थानवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb)

• स्नात्वा: having bathed
• स्नात्वा: पूर्वक्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्ना (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय, अव्ययभाव/gerund), पूर्वक्रिया

• शेषमूर्तिम्: an image/form of Śeṣa
• शेषमूर्तिम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शेष-मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (शेषस्य मूर्तिः)

• प्रददाति: gives/offers
• प्रददाति: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-दा (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; Present indicative 3sg

• द्विजातये: to a twice-born (Brahmin)
• द्विजातये: सम्प्रदान (Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विजाति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (सम्प्रदान), एकवचन; Dative singular

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Perform snāna at Śeṣa-tīrtha and offer Śeṣa-mūrti to a dvija—ritual action aligned with sacred geography and proper recipient (pātra).

Vedantic Theme: Cosmic order upheld by dharma: honoring Śeṣa (Ananta) symbolizes steadiness and support; right action in right place with right recipient purifies the doer.

Application: If visiting such a tīrtha, combine bathing with charity to qualified recipients (education, priestly service, preservation of learning); contemplate ‘Ananta’ as inner steadiness amid life’s inauspicious zones.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: tīrtha (ford)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana tīrtha-mahātmyas listing directional/liminal tīrthas and associated dānas (contextual continuation in the same adhyāya)

Characters & Entities

• Pāśins
• Nairṛtas
• Śeṣa (Ananta)
• Dvija (Brāhmaṇa)

FAQs

What is the importance of Śeṣa-tīrtha in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents Śeṣa-tīrtha as a “supreme” tīrtha situated between fearsome regions; bathing there and making a Śeṣa-related donation is taught as a meritorious, protective rite connected to the afterlife path.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the after-death landscape?

By naming territories associated with Pāśins (binders) and Nairṛtas (ominous beings) and placing a tīrtha between them, the verse frames the journey as perilous yet navigable through purifying acts (snāna) and dharmic giving (dāna).

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It encourages purification and charity: perform sacred bathing where appropriate and support qualified religious service (dāna to a brāhmaṇa), dedicating the act to stability and protection symbolized by Śeṣa (Ananta).