Shloka 113

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

with Dāna-Lakṣaṇas

Devanagari script

मूर्तिं ददाति यो मर्त्यः स याति परमां गतिम् / औदुंबरफलाकारं प्रसन्नवदनं शुभम्

Transliteration

mūrtiṃ dadāti yo martyaḥ sa yāti paramāṃ gatim / auduṃbaraphalākāraṃ prasannavadanaṃ śubham

Translation

Sesiapa yang fana yang mendermakan sebuah arca suci (mūrti) akan mencapai tujuan tertinggi. Arca itu hendaklah membawa keberkatan—berbentuk seperti buah udumbara, dengan wajah yang tenang dan menyenangkan.

Word by Word

• mūrtim: an image/idol
• mūrtim: Karma (कर्म/द्वितीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūrti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• dadāti: gives
• dadāti: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dā (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); parasmaipada

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/प्रथमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; relative pronoun

• martyaḥ: a mortal
• martyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/प्रथमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: martya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता/प्रथमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; demonstrative pronoun

• yāti: goes/attains
• yāti: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √yā (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; parasmaipada

• paramām: supreme
• paramām: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; विशेषणम्

• gatim: state/goal
• gatim: Karma (कर्म/द्वितीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• audumbaraphalākāram: shaped like an udumbara fruit
• audumbaraphalākāram: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: audumbara-phala-ākāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; विशेषणम्; समासः: audumbara + phala + ākāra (तत्पुरुष: ‘having the form of an udumbara fruit’)

• prasannavadanam: with a serene face
• prasannavadanam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prasanna-vadana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; विशेषणम्; समासः: prasanna + vadana (कर्मधारय)

• śubham: auspicious
• śubham: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; विशेषणम्

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Mūrti-dāna (donation of a properly formed sacred image) yields paramā gati by pleasing the deity and cultivating selfless devotion.

Vedantic Theme: Karma offered to Īśvara (īśvara-arpita) becomes purifying; arcā as a compassionate, accessible locus for the Absolute.

Application: Support temple consecration or community worship by donating icons or sponsoring their making according to śilpa-lakṣaṇa; pair giving with humility and ongoing worship.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana sections on dāna-mahātmyas and arcā-lakṣaṇa (mūrti-dāna descriptions continuing in adjacent verses)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

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

This verse states that donating a sacred image is a powerful act of merit (puṇya) that leads the donor toward the highest spiritual destination (paramā gati).

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

By linking a specific dāna (gift) to “paramā gati,” the verse presents charity performed with faith as a karmic support that elevates the soul’s post-death trajectory toward auspicious realms and liberation-oriented outcomes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform meaningful charity—especially religious or community-supporting donations—with sincerity and purity of intention, treating giving as a disciplined spiritual practice rather than mere display.