Shloka 27

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

with Dāna-Lakṣaṇas

Devanagari script

अल्पेन तपसाभीष्टं सिध्यत्यस्मिन्नहोबले / गङ्गादिसर्वतीर्थानि पुण्यानि ह्यत्र संति वै

Transliteration

alpena tapasābhīṣṭaṃ sidhyatyasminnahobale / gaṅgādisarvatīrthāni puṇyāni hyatra saṃti vai

Translation

अल्पेन तपसाभीष्टं सिध्यत्यस्मिन्नहोबले। गङ्गादिसर्वतीर्थानि पुण्यानि ह्यत्र सन्ति वै॥

Word by Word

• अल्पेन: with little
• अल्पेन: करण (करणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अल्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (instrumental), एकवचन; ‘with little’

• तपसा: by austerity
• तपसा: करण (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अभीष्टम्: the desired (result)
• अभीष्टम्: कर्ता (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभि-इष् (धातु) / अभीष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त (PPP) ‘desired’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तृवाच्ये फल-रूपे

• सिध्यति: is accomplished
• सिध्यति: क्रिया (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सिध् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• अस्मिन्: in this
• अस्मिन्: अधिकरण (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अहोबले: at Ahobala
• अहोबले: अधिकरण (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहोबल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; स्थान-नाम

• गङ्गादिसर्वतीर्थानि: all tīrthas such as the Gaṅgā
• गङ्गादिसर्वतीर्थानि: कर्ता (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा + आदि + सर्व + तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—गङ्गा-आदि (गङ्गा and others) + सर्वतीर्थ (all holy fords)

• पुण्यानि: holy/meritorious
• पुण्यानि: विशेषण (कर्ता-सम्बन्धी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying तीर्थानि)

• हि: indeed
• हि: सम्बन्ध/अव्यय-प्रयोग
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थ

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

• सन्ति: are
• सन्ति: क्रिया (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

• वै: certainly
• वै: सम्बन्ध/अव्यय-प्रयोग
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Kṣetra-mahātmyā: small austerity yields great fruit when performed in a highly sanctified locus; merit is amplified by place and intention.

Vedantic Theme: Adhikāra and saṅga: supportive conditions (deśa-kāla-saṅgati) aid purification; ultimately fruit depends on īśvara-anugraha mediated through dharma.

Application: Perform modest but sincere tapas (fasting, japa, vrata, charity) during a visit; bathe/remember Gaṅgā symbolically; dedicate the act to Nārāyaṇa/Narasiṃha rather than mere gain.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: kṣetra/tīrtha on a mountain region

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: recurring claim that certain kṣetras contain ‘sarva-tīrtha’ potency and grant siddhi with minimal effort; Garuda Purana: phala-śruti style verses promising accomplishment through tīrtha-sevā

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Ganga
• Tirthas

FAQs

What is the importance of Ahobala (Ahobilam) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that Ahobala is so spiritually potent that even minimal austerity there can fulfill one’s aims, because it is regarded as containing the merit of all major tīrthas, including the Gaṅgā.

How does this verse relate to purification and post-death merit (puṇya)?

By equating the kṣetra with all tīrthas, the verse highlights a Garuda Purana theme: puṇya gained through sacred acts and places supports purification and auspicious outcomes, which are especially emphasized in Preta Kanda discussions.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Undertake sincere, moderate discipline—such as prayer, fasting, charity, or pilgrimage—with focused intention; the teaching emphasizes quality of devotion and the sanctifying power of a holy environment.