Shloka 53

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

with Dāna-Lakṣaṇas

Devanagari script

तथैव तीर्थे दुर्लभं तत्र देवि शालग्रामस्य द्विजवर्ये च दानम् / जंबूफलाकारसुनीलवर्णं मुखद्वयं चक्रचतुष्टयान्वितम्

Transliteration

tathaiva tīrthe durlabhaṃ tatra devi śālagrāmasya dvijavarye ca dānam / jaṃbūphalākārasunīlavarṇaṃ mukhadvayaṃ cakracatuṣṭayānvitam

Translation

അതുപോലെ ദേവീ, ആ തീർത്ഥത്തിൽ ശ്രേഷ്ഠ ദ്വിജനു ശാലഗ്രാമം ദാനം ലഭിക്കുക ദുർലഭം. അത് ജംബൂഫലാകൃതിയുള്ളതും, ഗാഢനീലവർണ്ണമുള്ളതും, രണ്ട് മുഖങ്ങളുള്ളതും, നാല് ചക്രചിഹ്നങ്ങളാൽ യുക്തവുമെന്നു വിവരണം ചെയ്യപ്പെടുന്നു.

Word by Word

• तथा: thus
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (thus)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-निपात

• तीर्थे: in the sacred place
• तीर्थे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• दुर्लभम्: rare
• दुर्लभम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्लभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (rare)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय

• देवि: O देवी
• देवि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• शालग्रामस्य: of the Śālagrāma
• शालग्रामस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शालग्राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• द्विज-वर्ये: in/for a foremost Brahmin
• द्विज-वर्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (‘in/for an excellent Brahmin’)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• दानम्: the giving (gift)
• दानम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• जम्बूफल-आकार-सुनील-वर्णम्: jambu-fruit-shaped, deep-blue in color
• जम्बूफल-आकार-सुनील-वर्णम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जम्बूफल (प्रातिपदिक) + आकार (प्रातिपदिक) + सुनील (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (determinative): ‘having jambu-fruit shape and deep-blue color’

• मुख-द्वयम्: two-faced (having two mouths)
• मुख-द्वयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुख (प्रातिपदिक) + द्वय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—द्विगु (‘two faces/mouths’)

• चक्र-चतुष्टय-अन्वितम्: endowed with four chakras
• चक्र-चतुष्टय-अन्वितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चक्र (प्रातिपदिक) + चतुष्टय (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्वित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण; समासः—तत्पुरुष (‘endowed with a set of four discs’)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda; vocative 'devi' appears as a transmitted reading)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dāna gains special potency when the gift is sacred (Śālagrāma), the place is holy (tīrtha), and the recipient is worthy (dvija-varya).

Vedantic Theme: Sacred symbols (arcā/śālagrāma) as supports for devotion; dharmic action purified by right object, right place, right recipient.

Application: When giving, consider sanctity and suitability: offer meaningful, spiritually aligned gifts to qualified recipients with respect and correct understanding.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: tīrtha (pilgrimage place)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.26.51-52 (Vāyu-tīrtha merit and Bhāgavata-śravaṇa); Garuda Purana 3.26.54-55 (Janārdana form and mūrti-dāna; other rare gifts)

Characters & Entities

• Shalagrama
• Vishnu
• Brahmana (Dvija)

FAQs

What is the importance of Śālagrāma-dāna in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights Śālagrāma-dāna as a rare and highly meritorious act, especially when performed at a tīrtha and given to a worthy Brāhmaṇa.

How does this verse connect pilgrimage (tīrtha) and charity (dāna)?

It teaches that certain gifts—here, a Śālagrāma—gain heightened religious value in a tīrtha context, emphasizing sacred place plus right recipient as a powerful combination.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform charity with discernment: choose a meaningful sacred act, offer it in a spiritually mindful setting, and give to a genuinely qualified and ethical recipient.