Shloka 30

Dāna-vrata and the Tīrtha Circuit of Venkaṭādri

Snāna, Mantra, Naivedya

Devanagari script

तत ऊर्ध्वं महाभागा ययौ तत्र ददर्श सा / पञ्चायुधानां तीर्थानि तेषु स्नानं चकार सा

Transliteration

tata ūrdhvaṃ mahābhāgā yayau tatra dadarśa sā / pañcāyudhānāṃ tīrthāni teṣu snānaṃ cakāra sā

Translation

അതിനുശേഷം മുന്നോട്ട് പോയ മഹാഭാഗ്യവതി അവിടെ എത്തി പഞ്ചായുധങ്ങളുമായി ബന്ധപ്പെട്ട തീർത്ഥങ്ങൾ ദർശിച്ചു. ആ തീർത്ഥങ്ങളിൽ അവൾ വിധിപൂർവ്വം സ്നാനം ചെയ്തു.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: from there, then
• tataḥ: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverbial ablatival sense (तस्मात्-अर्थे)

• ūrdhvam: upwards
• ūrdhvam: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ūrdhva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb (direction)

• mahābhāgā: the fortunate lady
• mahābhāgā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + bhāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Prathamā vibhakti (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• yayau: went
• yayau: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yā (धाातु)
• Form: Laṅ-lakāra (लङ्, past), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd/प्रथमपुरुष), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb of place

• dadarśa: saw
• dadarśa: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (लिट्, perfect), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• sā: she
• sā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana (एकवचन), sarvanāma (pronoun)

• pañcāyudhānām: of the five weapons
• pañcāyudhānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pañca + āyudha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (नपुंसकलिङ्ग) (āyudha), Ṣaṣṭhī vibhakti (6th/षष्ठी), Bahuvacana (बहुवचन)

• tīrthāni: holy fords/places of pilgrimage
• tīrthāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tīrtha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Prathamā (1st), Bahuvacana (बहुवचन)

• teṣu: in them
• teṣu: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Saptamī vibhakti (7th/सप्तमी), Bahuvacana (बहुवचन), sarvanāma

• snānam: bathing
• snānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: snāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā vibhakti (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• cakāra: did, performed
• cakāra: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (लिट्, perfect), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• sā: she
• sā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana (एकवचन), sarvanāma

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Sacred geography as embodied theology: Viṣṇu’s weapons mark tīrthas; repeated snāna expresses surrender and purification under divine protection.

Vedantic Theme: Śaraṇāgati (refuge) and transformation of action into worship; symbols (āyudha) point to the Lord’s sustaining and protecting śakti.

Application: Use protective symbols as reminders of ethical courage; undertake disciplined spiritual practice step-by-step rather than seeking a single dramatic act.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: cluster of tīrthas (multiple bathing places)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.27 (pañcāyudha-tīrtha mention; likely followed by details of each weapon-tīrtha)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Pañcāyudha (Five Divine Weapons)
• Tīrtha

FAQs

What is the importance of tīrtha-snāna (ritual bathing) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents tīrtha-snāna as a deliberate act of purification and merit-making, undertaken at sanctified places connected with Viṣṇu’s sacred powers (the Five Weapons).

How does this verse explain spiritual progress in the narrative?

It shows forward movement—she proceeds onward, encounters consecrated tīrthas, and performs the prescribed bath—indicating a step-by-step journey where sacred places and rites support inner purification.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Approach pilgrimages and rituals with intention: visit holy places (or create a disciplined sacred routine), and treat cleansing practices as reminders to purify conduct, speech, and mind.