Veṅkaṭācala Māhātmya: Bhakti-Lakṣaṇa, Nārasiṁha-tīrtha, and the Secret Darśana-Vidhi of Śrīnivāsa
स्नानं कृत्वा तत्र तीर्थे च सम्यग्दीपं दत्त्वा द्विजवर्याय मुख्यम् / द्रष्टुं पुनः श्रीनिवासं प्रजग्मुर्गोविन्दगोविन्द इति ब्रुवन्तः
snānaṃ kṛtvā tatra tīrthe ca samyagdīpaṃ dattvā dvijavaryāya mukhyam / draṣṭuṃ punaḥ śrīnivāsaṃ prajagmurgovindagovinda iti bruvantaḥ
त्या तीर्थात विधिपूर्वक स्नान करून, श्रेष्ठ द्विजाला मुख्य दान म्हणून दीप अर्पण करून, ते पुन्हा श्रीनिवासाच्या दर्शनास निघाले—“गोविंद, गोविंद” असे वारंवार म्हणत।
Narrator (within the Vishnu–Garuda dialogue framework)
Concept: Purification and merit through tīrtha-snāna, dāna (lamp), and nāma-japa as immediate supports for Viṣṇu-darśana.
Vedantic Theme: Bhagavad-smṛti as sādhana; karma (dāna, snāna) becomes sanctified when oriented to Viṣṇu.
Application: When visiting a sacred place: bathe with mindfulness, offer a lamp to a worthy recipient/temple, and keep continuous nāma-japa while proceeding to darśana.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
Type: tīrtha/ford and pilgrimage route
Related Themes: Garuda Purana (general): tīrtha-māhātmya and dāna-prakaraṇa motifs; Viṣṇu-nāma-smaraṇa praised across bhakti sections
This verse links tīrtha-snāna (purificatory bathing) with dīpa-dāna (offering a lamp) as a complete act of merit—purification followed by a luminous gift—performed in a dharmic way by honoring a worthy dvija.
By showing the pilgrims moving toward Śrīnivāsa while repeating “Govinda,” it highlights nāma-japa (repetition of the divine name) as a living form of devotion accompanying ritual action.
Combine inner practice with outer dharma: bathe or purify oneself before worship, offer a lamp (or support a temple/learned priest ethically), and keep steady remembrance of the Divine through simple name-repetition like “Govinda.”