Shloka 133

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

with Dāna-Lakṣaṇas

Devanagari script

दुर्घटं कपिलादानं भक्ष्यदानं सुदुर्घटम् / स्वामिपुष्करिणीतीर्थे तीर्थेष्वन्येषु भामिनि

Transliteration

durghaṭaṃ kapilādānaṃ bhakṣyadānaṃ sudurghaṭam / svāmipuṣkariṇītīrthe tīrtheṣvanyeṣu bhāmini

Translation

Sedekah seekor lembu kapilā (berwarna perang keemasan) sukar dilaksanakan, dan sedekah makanan lebih sukar lagi. Wahai kekasih, demikianlah khususnya di tirtha Svāmipuṣkariṇī, dan juga di tempat-tempat ziarah suci yang lain.

Word by Word

• दुर्घटम्: difficult
• दुर्घटम्: Vidhāna (विधान) / Predicate
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्घट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; predicate adjective

• कपिला-दानम्: gift of a tawny cow
• कपिला-दानम्: Karta (कर्ता) / Predicate subject
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपिला (प्रातिपदिक) + दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (कपिलायाः दानम्)

• भक्ष्य-दानम्: gift of food/edibles
• भक्ष्य-दानम्: Karta (कर्ता) / Predicate subject
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ष्य (प्रातिपदिक) + दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (भक्ष्यस्य दानम्)

• सु-दुर्घटम्: very difficult
• सु-दुर्घटम्: Vidhāna (विधान) / Predicate
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (अव्यय/उपसर्गवत्) + दुर्घट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; intensifier

• स्वामि-पुष्करिणी-तीर्थे: at the Svāmi-puṣkariṇī pilgrimage place
• स्वामि-पुष्करिणी-तीर्थे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वामिन् (प्रातिपदिक) + पुष्करिणी (प्रातिपदिक) + तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7/Locative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (स्वामिपुष्करिण्याः तीर्थे)

• तीर्थेषु: in/among sacred places
• तीर्थेषु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7/Locative), बहुवचन

• अन्येषु: other
• अन्येषु: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), बहुवचन; qualifying ‘तीर्थेषु’

• भामिनि: O fair lady
• भामिनि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भामिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन; address

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Go-dāna and anna-dāna are difficult yet exalted; sacred geography intensifies karmic fruit when acts are done with devotion and propriety.

Vedantic Theme: Karma purified by sattva and īśvara-arpana (offering to the Lord through dharmic giving).

Application: Prioritize food security and compassionate giving; if traditional forms (cow-gift) are impractical, emulate intent via sustained support of caregivers, shelters, and nourishment programs, ideally linked to sacred observances.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: tīrtha (bathing place)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: recurring praise of anna-dāna as foremost among gifts (theme-level); Garuda Purana: tīrtha-māhātmya passages connecting place, purity, and dāna

Characters & Entities

• Svāmipuṣkariṇī

FAQs

What is the importance of kapilā-dāna (gift of a tawny cow) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights kapilā-dāna as a demanding but valued act of charity, implying it carries strong religious merit when performed properly, especially in sacred contexts.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana death rituals and merit for the departed?

By emphasizing dāna—particularly food-giving—at tīrthas, the verse aligns with the Garuda Purana’s broader theme that prescribed gifts and offerings support dharma and are believed to aid spiritual welfare connected with post-death rites.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Prioritize sincere charity—especially feeding others—performed ethically and without exploitation, and treat pilgrimages as opportunities for disciplined giving rather than display.