Shloka 58

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

with Dāna-Lakṣaṇas

Devanagari script

अत्युत्तमं भागवतस्य पुस्तकं सुदुर्घटं वायुतीर्थं च कन्ये / अत्युत्तमं द्रव्यदानं च देवि सुदुर्घटं वायुतीर्थं नृणां हि / सुदुर्लभो वैष्णवैस्तत्त्वविद्भिर्हरेर्विचारो वायुतीर्थे च कन्ये

Transliteration

atyuttamaṃ bhāgavatasya pustakaṃ sudurghaṭaṃ vāyutīrthaṃ ca kanye / atyuttamaṃ dravyadānaṃ ca devi sudurghaṭaṃ vāyutīrthaṃ nṛṇāṃ hi / sudurlabho vaiṣṇavaistattvavidbhirharervicāro vāyutīrthe ca kanye

Translation

Wahai gadis suci, kitab Bhāgavata adalah yang paling unggul; demikian juga Vāyu-tīrtha, namun amat sukar dicapai. Wahai Dewi, sedekah harta adalah yang paling utama; sesungguhnya bagi manusia Vāyu-tīrtha itu sukar didatangi. Dan amat jarang dalam kalangan Vaiṣṇava yang mengetahui tattva terdapat perenungan mendalam tentang Hari—terutama di Vāyu-tīrtha, wahai gadis suci.

Word by Word

• ati-uttamam: most excellent
• ati-uttamam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ati (अव्यय) + uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• bhāgavatasya: of the Bhāgavata
• bhāgavatasya: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāgavata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter/Masculine, Genitive, Singular; here ‘of the Bhāgavata (Purāṇa)’

• pustakam: book
• pustakam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pustaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

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

• vāyu-tīrtham: Vāyu-tīrtha (a sacred ford)
• vāyu-tīrtham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāyu (प्रातिपदिक) + tīrtha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa (वायोः तीर्थम्)

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

• kanye: O maiden
• kanye: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kanyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Vocative, Singular

• ati-uttamam: most excellent
• ati-uttamam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ati (अव्यय) + uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• dravya-dānam: donation of wealth
• dravya-dānam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dravya (प्रातिपदिक) + dāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

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

• devi: O देवी
• devi: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Vocative, Singular

• su-durghaṭam: very difficult
• su-durghaṭam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (अव्यय) + durghaṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• vāyu-tīrtham: Vāyu-tīrtha
• vāyu-tīrtham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāyu (प्रातिपदिक) + tīrtha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• nṛṇām: of men/people
• nṛṇām: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• hi: indeed/for
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (हेतौ/निश्चयार्थ)

• su-durlabhaḥ: very rare
• su-durlabhaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (अव्यय) + durlabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• vaiṣṇavaiḥ: by Vaiṣṇavas
• vaiṣṇavaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaiṣṇava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (तृतीया), Plural

• tattva-vidbhiḥ: by knowers of reality
• tattva-vidbhiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tattva (प्रातिपदिक) + vid (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural; tatpuruṣa ‘knowers of truth’ (तत्त्वं विदन्ति)

• hareḥ: of Hari
• hareḥ: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• vicāraḥ: inquiry/reflection
• vicāraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vicāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• vāyu-tīrthe: at Vāyu-tīrtha
• vāyu-tīrthe: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāyu-tīrtha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular; place-locative

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

• kanye: O maiden
• kanye: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kanyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (Hari) speaking to Garuda (Vinata-putra), addressing a sacred place/personified as 'kanye/devi' within the verse’s poetic address

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Supreme aids to spiritual life are (1) Bhāgavata scripture, (2) sacred tīrtha (Vāyu-tīrtha), (3) wealth-gift used righteously; rarest is deep contemplation on Hari among true Vaiṣṇavas.

Vedantic Theme: Śravaṇa–manana (hearing and contemplation) centered on Bhagavān; bhakti supported by sādhana-sampatti and sacred association.

Application: Study Bhāgavata regularly, undertake pilgrimage with discipline, and cultivate daily Hari-smaraṇa and tattva-vicāra rather than mere ritual tourism.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Geographic Context

Type: tirtha

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.26.59-60 (Śrīnivāsa/Candratīrtha worship and bathing); Garuda Purana 3.26.56-57 (dāna hierarchy and rarity)

Characters & Entities

• Hari (Vishnu)
• Vaiṣṇavas
• Vāyu (by Vāyu-tīrtha)
• Bhāgavata

FAQs

What is the importance of Vāyu-tīrtha in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents Vāyu-tīrtha as a highly meritorious yet difficult-to-attain pilgrimage site, highlighting it as a place especially connected with serious devotion and contemplation of Hari.

How does this verse relate scripture, charity, and pilgrimage?

It groups three ‘supreme’ supports of dharma—Bhāgavata scripture, dravya-dāna (wealth-giving), and tīrtha-yātrā—while stressing that true Hari-vicāra (deep reflection on Vishnu) is the rarest attainment even among devotees.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Study a trusted Bhāgavata text regularly, practice consistent charity within your means, and treat pilgrimages as opportunities for disciplined Hari-centered contemplation rather than mere travel.