Shloka 126

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

with Dāna-Lakṣaṇas

Devanagari script

तत्र स्नानं प्रकर्तव्यं दातव्यं दानमुत्तमम् / शिशुमारं च मत्स्यं च त्रिविक्रममथापि वा / दातव्यं भूतिकामेन तीर्थेस्मिन्विरवर्णिनि

Transliteration

tatra snānaṃ prakartavyaṃ dātavyaṃ dānamuttamam / śiśumāraṃ ca matsyaṃ ca trivikramamathāpi vā / dātavyaṃ bhūtikāmena tīrthesminviravarṇini

Translation

അവിടെ നിർബന്ധമായി സ്നാനം ചെയ്യുകയും ഉത്തമദാനം നൽകുകയും വേണം. ശിശുമാരം, മത്സ്യം, അല്ലെങ്കിൽ ത്രിവിക്രമം (പ്രതിമ/പ്രതിനിധി) ദാനമായി നൽകാം. ഹേ ശ്രേഷ്ഠവർണിനീ, ഈ തീർത്ഥത്തിൽ സമൃദ്ധി ആഗ്രഹിക്കുന്നവൻ ഇത്തരമൊരു ദാനം ചെയ്യണം.

Word by Word

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

• स्नानम्: bathing
• स्नानम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (Nom/Acc sg)

• प्रकर्तव्यम्: should be done
• प्रकर्तव्यम्: विधेय (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र√कृ (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृत्प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त (तव्यत्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; विधेय/आवश्यकता (gerundive: ‘to be done’)

• दातव्यम्: should be given
• दातव्यम्: विधेय (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (√दा, धातु) + तव्यत् (कृत्प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त (तव्यत्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; विधेय/आवश्यकता (gerundive: ‘to be given’)

• दानम्: gift/charity
• दानम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (Nom/Acc sg)

• उत्तमम्: excellent
• उत्तमम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; विशेषण (superlative adjective)

• शिशुमारम्: (image of) Śiśumāra
• शिशुमारम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिशुमार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन (Acc sg)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक निपात (conjunction)

• मत्स्यम्: (image of) Fish (Matsya)
• मत्स्यम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत्स्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन (Acc sg)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक निपात (conjunction)

• त्रिविक्रमम्: (image of) Trivikrama
• त्रिविक्रमम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि + विक्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन (Acc sg); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/उपपद-समास (name: ‘having three strides’)

• अथ: then
• अथ: सम्बन्ध (Discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक (then/now)

• अपि: also
• अपि: सम्बन्ध (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/समुच्चय (also/even)

• वा: or
• वा: समुच्चय/विकल्प (Alternative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक (or)

• दातव्यम्: should be given
• दातव्यम्: विधेय (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (√दा, धातु) + तव्यत् (कृत्प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त (तव्यत्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; विधेय/आवश्यकता

• भूतिकामेन: by one desiring prosperity
• भूतिकामेन: कर्ता (Karta/Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूति + काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया एकवचन (Instr sg); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘desiring prosperity’)

• तीर्थे: in the sacred ford/place
• तीर्थे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी एकवचन (Loc sg)

• अस्मिन्: in this
• अस्मिन्: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी एकवचन (Loc sg)

• विरवर्णिनि: in Viravarṇinī (named place)
• विरवर्णिनि: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विरवर्णिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी एकवचन (Loc sg); विशेषण (qualifying ‘tīrtha’)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Tīrtha-snāna and prescribed dāna (icons/representations) yield bhūti (prosperity) and merit when done at the proper sacred place.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-yoga orientation: sanctified action offered within a sacred framework; symbolic gifts align the donor with cosmic order (śiśumāra/cosmic form) and avatāra grace (Matsya, Trivikrama).

Application: Perform charity with clear intention and reverence—support temples, sacred learning, water conservation/cleaning projects; pair giving with personal purification and prayer.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: tirtha (sacred ford)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.26 (Vāruṇa-tīrtha prescriptions; list of acceptable dāna items)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Trivikrama
• Matsya
• Śiśumāra
• Tīrtha

FAQs

What is the importance of tirtha-snana and dana in the Garuda Purana?

This verse teaches that bathing at a sacred place and giving charity there is an “uttama” (supreme) act, producing auspicious merit and supporting prosperity-oriented dharma.

Why does the verse mention Śiśumāra, Matsya, and Trivikrama as donations?

They are sacred Viṣṇu-associated forms; donating their representations functions as devotional charity, linking tīrtha practice with Viṣṇu-upāsanā and merit-making.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When visiting a pilgrimage site, combine a mindful bath/ablution with purposeful charity—especially devotional giving connected to dharma—rather than treating the visit as mere travel.