Shloka 23

Jāmbavatī’s Vaiṣṇava-Ācāra: Grace, Sense-Consecration, and Pilgrimage to Śrīnivāsa on Veṅkaṭādri

Devanagari script

तीर्थाटनं पादचैरैः कृतं चेत्पूर्णं फलं प्राहुरार्याः खगेन्द्र / पादत्राणं पादरक्षां च कृत्वा तीर्थाटनं पादहीनं तदाहुः

Transliteration

tīrthāṭanaṃ pādacairaiḥ kṛtaṃ cetpūrṇaṃ phalaṃ prāhurāryāḥ khagendra / pādatrāṇaṃ pādarakṣāṃ ca kṛtvā tīrthāṭanaṃ pādahīnaṃ tadāhuḥ

Translation

О Хагендра, благородные утверждают: если паломничество совершается пешком, оно приносит полный плод. Но если идти, защищая ноги обувью и оберегая стопы, то, говорят, такое паломничество словно «без ног» — лишено совершенного плода.

Word by Word

• tīrtha-aṭanam: pilgrimage-wandering
• tīrtha-aṭanam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tīrtha-aṭana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st), Singular; Tatpuruṣa: tīrtha + aṭana

• pāda-cāraiḥ: by walking on foot
• pāda-cāraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāda-cāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd), Plural; Tatpuruṣa: pāda (foot) + cāra (movement)

• kṛtam: done/performed
• kṛtam: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter, Nominative (1st), Singular; agrees with tīrthāṭanam

• cet: if
• cet: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: cet (अव्यय)
• Form: Conditional particle (निपात)

• pūrṇam: complete
• pūrṇam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pūrṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st), Singular; qualifies phalam

• phalam: fruit/result
• phalam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: phala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st), Singular

• prāhuḥ: they declare
• prāhuḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-āh (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person, Plural

• āryāḥ: the noble ones
• āryāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ārya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Plural

• khagendra: O lord of birds (Garuda)
• khagendra: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: khaga-indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th), Singular; Tatpuruṣa: khaga (bird) + indra (lord)

• pāda-trāṇam: footwear/foot-protection
• pāda-trāṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāda-trāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; Tatpuruṣa: pāda + trāṇa (protection)

• pāda-rakṣām: protection of the feet
• pāda-rakṣām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāda-rakṣā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; Tatpuruṣa: pāda + rakṣā

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

• kṛtvā: having done/made
• kṛtvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा)

• tīrtha-aṭanam: pilgrimage-wandering
• tīrtha-aṭanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tīrtha-aṭana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• pāda-hīnam: devoid of feet / (figuratively) without (true) walking
• pāda-hīnam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pāda-hīna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; Tatpuruṣa: pāda + hīna (devoid of)

• tad: that
• tad: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; demonstrative pronoun used adverbially 'that'

• āhuḥ: they say
• āhuḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ah (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person, Plural

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Tapas in pilgrimage (walking) completes the merit; excessive comfort undermines the intended discipline.

Vedantic Theme: Indriya-nigraha and tapas as aids to citta-śuddhi; external hardship supports inner steadiness when aligned with right intent.

Application: When feasible and safe, adopt some voluntary simplicity in spiritual travel (walking segments, reduced luxury) while maintaining non-harm and health.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: journey route

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: general praise of tapas, niyama, and disciplined observances during vows and pilgrimages (thematic link)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda (Khagendra)

FAQs

What is the importance of walking on foot during pilgrimage in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that pilgrimage done by walking (pādacairaiḥ) is said to give the ‘full fruit’ (pūrṇa-phala), emphasizing austerity and deliberate effort as integral to the rite.

How does this verse explain spiritual merit (phala) in ritual practice?

It links merit to the quality of observance: greater tapas-like effort (walking barefoot or without foot-protection) is portrayed as producing more complete results than a comfort-preserving approach.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Undertake sacred practices with sincerity and some self-discipline—prioritizing intention and effort—while adapting responsibly to health and safety needs.