Shloka 54
Veṅkaṭeśa-Māhātmya: Varāha Prelude, Descent of Śeṣācala, Svāmipuṣkariṇī and the Network of Tīrthas
with Dāna-Lakṣaṇas
सुकेसरैः संयुतं स्वर्णचिह्नध्वजां कुशैर्वज्रचिह्नैर्यवैश्च / जानार्दनीं मूर्तिमाहुर्महान्तो दानं तस्या दुर्लभं तत्र तीर्थे
sukesaraiḥ saṃyutaṃ svarṇacihnadhvajāṃ kuśairvajracihnairyavaiśca / jānārdanīṃ mūrtimāhurmahānto dānaṃ tasyā durlabhaṃ tatra tīrthe
Os grandes sábios declaram que, nesse tīrtha, há uma imagem de Janārdana—adornada com finos cabelos, portando um estandarte com emblemas de ouro, e associada à relva kuśa, a grãos de yava (cevada) e a sinais como o vajra. Nesse tīrtha, a oferta (dāna) feita a essa forma é raríssima.
Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Concept: Arcā (iconic) presence of Janārdana at a tīrtha is a legitimate and potent focus of devotion; offerings made there carry special spiritual weight.
Vedantic Theme: Saguna-brahman approached through arcā; symbols and auspicious marks as pedagogical supports for devotion and recollection of divine attributes.
Application: Engage in temple worship with attentiveness to symbolism; make offerings as acts of surrender rather than transaction.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: tīrtha (shrine/ford with a specific Janārdana form)
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.26.51 (Hari knows merit); Garuda Purana 3.26.55 (mūrti-dāna and other rare gifts)
FAQs
This verse states that offerings made to the Janārdana form at that tīrtha are “durlabha” (rare), implying a special, hard-to-attain merit when such charity is performed there with ritual sanctity.
It links the sacred image of Janārdana with kuśa grass and barley (yava), both standard Vedic ritual substances, indicating that worship and giving are to be done with traditional ritual purity and prescribed materials.
Perform charity and devotional giving in a spirit of reverence—especially during pilgrimages or temple visits—using simple, pure offerings and dedicating the act to Viṣṇu for cultivating dharma and inner discipline.