Shloka 55

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

with Dāna-Lakṣaṇas

Devanagari script

अत्युत्तमं मूर्तिदानं तु भद्रे सुदुर्ल्लभं परमं नात्र लोभः / सुदुर्लभं बहुदोग्ध्याश्च गृष्टेर्दानं तथा वस्त्ररत्नादिकानाम्

Transliteration

atyuttamaṃ mūrtidānaṃ tu bhadre sudurllabhaṃ paramaṃ nātra lobhaḥ / sudurlabhaṃ bahudogdhyāśca gṛṣṭerdānaṃ tathā vastraratnādikānām

Translation

ഭദ്രേ, മൂർത്തിദാനം അത്യുത്തമവും അത്യന്തം ദുർലഭവുമാണ്; ഇതിൽ ലാഭലോഭം വരുതരുത്. ധാരാളം പാൽ തരുന്ന പശുവിന്റെയും ആദ്യപ്രസവമായ (ഗൃഷ്ടി) പശുവിന്റെയും ദാനം, അതുപോലെ വസ്ത്രം, രത്നം മുതലായവയുടെ ദാനവും ദുർലഭമാണ്.

Word by Word

• ati-uttamam: most excellent
• ati-uttamam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ati (अव्यय) + uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); avyayībhāva-compound used adjectivally

• mūrti-dānam: gift of an image/idol
• mūrti-dānam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūrti (प्रातिपदिक) + dāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa (मूर्तेः दानम्)

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्यसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), contrast/emphasis

• bhadre: O auspicious lady
• bhadre: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhadrā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Vocative (सम्बोधन/8), Singular; address

• su-durlabham: very difficult to obtain
• su-durlabham: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (अव्यय) + durlabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; avyayībhāva used adjectivally

• paramam: supreme
• paramam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-निपात)

• atra: here/in this matter
• atra: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atra (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (देशवाचक अव्यय)

• lobhaḥ: greed
• lobhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lobha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular

• su-durlabham: very hard to obtain
• su-durlabham: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (अव्यय) + durlabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• bahu-dogdhyāḥ: yielding much milk
• bahu-dogdhyāḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bahu (प्रातिपदिक) + dogdhṛ/dogdhī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); ‘much-milking’ (बहु दोग्ध्री) qualifying cows

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• gṛṣṭeḥ: of a cow in milk (gṛṣṭi)
• gṛṣṭeḥ: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gṛṣṭi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Genitive (षष्ठी), Singular

• dānam: gift/donation
• dānam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• tathā: likewise/also
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (प्रकारवाचक अव्यय)

• vastra-ratna-ādikānām: of clothes, jewels, and the like
• vastra-ratna-ādikānām: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vastra (प्रातिपदिक) + ratna (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Genitive (षष्ठी), Plural; dvandva list ‘clothes and jewels etc.’ with ādi; whole in genitive plural

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The highest gifts are those offered without lobha (greed); mūrti-dāna is supremely meritorious, and other substantial gifts are praised when given rightly.

Vedantic Theme: Tyāga (renunciation) and śuddha-saṅkalpa as purifiers of action; dharmic giving as a means to inner purification supporting bhakti and moksha.

Application: Give proportionately and responsibly without attachment; avoid transactional religiosity; choose gifts that genuinely support recipients and sacred institutions.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.26.51-54 (tīrtha merit, Śālagrāma-dāna, Janārdana form and offerings)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of mūrti-dāna (gifting an idol) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse calls mūrti-dāna “supremely excellent” and “rare,” highlighting it as a high-merit act when done without greed and with a devotional intent.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey after death in the Garuda Purana?

In the Preta Kanda context, meritorious gifts (dāna) are presented as supports for dharma and puṇya, which traditionally aid the departed and the family’s ritual responsibility by countering attachment and generating spiritual merit.

What is a practical application of this teaching today?

Give thoughtfully—support worship, education, or essential needs (clothing, resources) without greed or display; prioritize sincerity and usefulness over status-driven charity.