Shloka 44
Viṣṇv-ekapūjya-nirṇaya; Gaṅgā-Viṣṇupadī-māhātmya; Kali-yuga doṣa; Puṣkara-dharma of Viṣṇu-smaraṇa
यस्मिन् गृहे देवमहोत्सवश्च यस्मिन् गृहे श्रवणं नास्ति विष्णोः / तत्संसर्गाद्याति दुः खादिकं च तस्य स्पर्शो नैव कार्यः कदापि
yasmin gṛhe devamahotsavaśca yasmin gṛhe śravaṇaṃ nāsti viṣṇoḥ / tatsaṃsargādyāti duḥ khādikaṃ ca tasya sparśo naiva kāryaḥ kadāpi
Rumah yang tiada pendengaran suci tentang Viṣṇu—walaupun di situ diadakan perayaan besar untuk para dewa—pergaulan dengannya hanya membawa penderitaan dan seumpamanya. Maka jangan sekali-kali bersentuhan atau mendekati tempat itu pada bila-bila masa.
Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Concept: Śravaṇa of Viṣṇu is essential; mere external festivals without Viṣṇu-kathā can lead to duḥkha through wrong association (asat-saṅga).
Vedantic Theme: Saṅga shapes vāsanā; sattva grows by śravaṇa-kīrtana, while hollow ritualism without right orientation reinforces avidyā.
Application: Choose communities and gatherings where genuine scriptural listening and devotion are present; practice discernment in social/spiritual associations.
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa
Type: domestic/communal gathering place
Related Themes: Garuda Purana: emphasis on Viṣṇu-bhakti as supreme purifier (thematic); Garuda Purana: warnings about asat-saṅga and fruitless ritualism (thematic)
FAQs
This verse treats listening to Viṣṇu’s names and teachings as the defining spiritual marker of a wholesome household; without it, even outwardly “religious” celebration is considered empty and leads to suffering through association.
Preta Kanda repeatedly emphasizes remembrance of Viṣṇu and dharmic company as supports for the jīva; the verse warns that environments lacking Viṣṇu-kathā undermine spiritual merit and can contribute to distress rather than protection.
Prioritize satsanga and regular Viṣṇu-kathā (reading, chanting, or listening) at home, and avoid close involvement with settings that mock or exclude spiritual hearing, even if they appear festive or socially prestigious.