Shloka 112

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

with Dāna-Lakṣaṇas

Devanagari script

तत्र स्नानं प्रकर्तव्यं पुनर्जन्म न विद्यते / शालग्रामशिलायाश्चः पुरुषोत्तमसंज्ञिकाम्

Transliteration

tatra snānaṃ prakartavyaṃ punarjanma na vidyate / śālagrāmaśilāyāścaḥ puruṣottamasaṃjñikām

Translation

तत्र स्नानं नित्यं कर्तव्यं; ततः पुनर्जन्म न विद्यते। तत्र शालग्रामशिला चास्ति, या ‘पुरुषोत्तमा’ इति संज्ञिता॥

Word by Word

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (देशवाचक-अव्यय)

• snānam: bathing
• snānam: Karta (कर्ता/प्रथमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: snāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• prakartavyam: should be performed
• prakartavyam: Vidhi (विधेय/आवश्यकता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra + √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Gerundive/Obligative (कृत्य/तव्यत्), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; ‘to be done’

• punarjanma: rebirth
• punarjanma: Karta (कर्ता/प्रथमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: punarjanman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; समासः: punar + janma (कर्मधारय)

• na: not
• na: Nishedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-निपात)

• vidyate: exists
• vidyate: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vid (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); ātmanepada; ‘exists/is found’

• śālagrāmaśilāyāḥ: of the Śālagrāma stone
• śālagrāmaśilāyāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śālagrāma-śilā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; समासः: śālagrāma + śilā (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय)

• puruṣottamasaṃjñikām: named ‘Puruṣottama’
• puruṣottamasaṃjñikām: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: puruṣottama-saṃjñikā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; विशेषणम्; समासः: puruṣottama + saṃjñikā (तत्पुरुष: ‘named Puruṣottama’)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Tīrtha-snāna in the presence of Puruṣottama (Śālagrāma) conduces to freedom from punarjanma.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara-anugraha as the decisive factor for mokṣa; sacred presence (arcā/aniconic) as a support for bhakti leading to liberation.

Application: Undertake tīrtha-snāna with vrata-like intention, followed by Viṣṇu-smaraṇa and worship of Śālagrāma (tulasī, water, mantra), treating the act as inner purification rather than tourism.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: tīrtha (sacred bathing place)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (tīrtha-mahātmyas and Viṣṇu-arcā/Śālagrāma praise in related adhyāyas of the same section)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Shalagrama
• Purushottama

FAQs

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

This verse states that bathing at the indicated sacred place is a prescribed act and is praised as leading to freedom from rebirth, framing tīrtha-snāna as a mokṣa-oriented practice.

How does this verse connect Shalagrama to liberation teachings in the Garuda Purana?

By naming the Śālagrāma stone as ‘Puruṣottama,’ the verse links the sacred icon of Viṣṇu with the same liberating context as the tīrtha—devotion and sanctified practice aimed at ending return (punarjanma).

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Undertake ritual purity practices with devotion—such as tīrtha pilgrimage when possible, or reverent worship of Viṣṇu (including Śālagrāma traditions where appropriate)—as a reminder to live toward detachment, dharma, and liberation.