Shloka 7

Dāna-vrata and the Tīrtha Circuit of Venkaṭādri

Snāna, Mantra, Naivedya

Devanagari script

कलावित्थं विशालाक्षि महिमा दृश्यते भुवि / अत्र स्नानं प्रकर्तव्यं दातव्यं दान मुत्तमम् / ततश्च ज्ञानमासाद्य विविष्णुलोकं स गच्छति

Transliteration

kalāvitthaṃ viśālākṣi mahimā dṛśyate bhuvi / atra snānaṃ prakartavyaṃ dātavyaṃ dāna muttamam / tataśca jñānamāsādya viviṣṇulokaṃ sa gacchati

Translation

О широкоокая, на земле явлена слава Калāвиттхи. Здесь надлежит совершить священное омовение и принести высочайшую милостыню. Затем, достигнув истинного знания, он идет в обитель Господа Вишну.

Word by Word

• कलावत्थम्: (at) Kalāvattha (a place)
• कलावत्थम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कलावत्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; (स्थल/तीर्थ-नामरूपेण)

• विशाल-अक्षि: O wide-eyed one
• विशाल-अक्षि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विशाल (प्रातिपदिक) + अक्षि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (विशालानि अक्षी यस्याः)

• महिमा: greatness
• महिमा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महिमन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• दृश्यते: is seen
• दृश्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive)

• भुवि: on earth
• भुवि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू (प्रातिपदिक: भुव्/भू)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (locative), एकवचन

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Desha (देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• स्नानम्: bathing
• स्नानम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• प्रकर्तव्यम्: should be done
• प्रकर्तव्यम्: Kriya (क्रिया/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√कृ (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/obligatory), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपसर्ग: प्र-; विधेय (to be done)

• दातव्यम्: should be given
• दातव्यम्: Kriya (क्रिया/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय

• दानम्: gift/charity
• दानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• उत्तमम्: excellent
• उत्तमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying दानम्)

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Desha-Kala (देश-काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: 'then/from there')

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• ज्ञानम्: knowledge
• ज्ञानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आसाद्य: having attained
• आसाद्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√सद् (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव (indeclinable gerund); उपसर्ग: आ-

• वि-विष्णु-लोकम्: to the world of Vishnu
• वि-विष्णु-लोकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक) + लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (विष्णोः लोकः; ‘वि’ उपसर्ग/विशेषक-पूर्वपद)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• गच्छति: goes
• गच्छति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Tīrtha-sevā (snāna) and dāna purify and prepare for jñāna, leading to Viṣṇuloka.

Vedantic Theme: Sādhana-catuṣṭaya via śuddhi: karma (dāna, snāna) → antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi → jñāna → higher gati; bhakti implied by ‘Viṣṇuloka’.

Application: Undertake pilgrimage/holy bathing with restraint; give charity as ‘uttama dāna’ (fit recipient, right time, pure intent); cultivate study and contemplation so ritual matures into liberating insight and devotion.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: tirtha

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana tīrtha-māhātmya: snāna+dāna as standard pair for pāpa-kṣaya and puṇya-vṛddhi; Garuda Purana bhakti passages: Viṣṇu-smaraṇa and right knowledge as highest refuge

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of sacred bathing (snāna) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents snāna at a praised tīrtha as a required purificatory act that supports spiritual upliftment, especially when paired with righteous charity and culminating in jñāna.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul toward Vishnu’s realm?

It outlines a progression: recognition of a holy place’s power, performing snāna there, giving the best charity, and finally attaining jñāna—after which the person reaches Viṣṇuloka.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Combine outer discipline (pilgrimage, cleanliness, ritual bathing) with inner growth (study and discernment) and ethical generosity—treating charity as a deliberate spiritual practice rather than a casual act.