Shloka 28
Jāmbavatī’s Vaiṣṇava-Ācāra: Grace, Sense-Consecration, and Pilgrimage to Śrīnivāsa on Veṅkaṭādri
विना दयां तीर्थयात्रा खगेन्द्रव्यर्थेत्येवं वीन्द्र चाहुर्महान्तः / दिवा रात्रौ ये न शृण्वन्ति दिव्यां हरेः कथां तीर्थमार्गे खगेन्द्र
vinā dayāṃ tīrthayātrā khagendravyarthetyevaṃ vīndra cāhurmahāntaḥ / divā rātrau ye na śṛṇvanti divyāṃ hareḥ kathāṃ tīrthamārge khagendra
ஓ ககேந்திரா! கருணையின்றி செய்யும் தீர்த்தயாத்திரை வீண் என மகான்கள் உரைப்பர். தீர்த்தமார்க்கத்தில் பகலும் இரவும் ஹரியின் திவ்யகதையைச் செவியுறாதோரின் பயணமும் பயனற்றதே.
Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Concept: Dayā (compassion) and continuous Hari-kathā-śravaṇa are essential; without them, external pilgrimage is ‘vyartha’.
Vedantic Theme: Antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi through dayā and śravaṇa; critique of mere externalism (bahirācāra) without inner transformation.
Application: While traveling to sacred places, practice kindness to beings and prioritize listening/reciting divine narratives; treat the journey as character training.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Type: tirtha-marga (pilgrimage road)
Related Themes: Garuda Purana: repeated ‘vyartha’ critique of ritual without right conduct; emphasis on Hari-kathā as purifier
FAQs
This verse states that without dayā, even a formal tīrtha-yātrā becomes vyarthā (fruitless); inner virtue is presented as the true measure of spiritual merit.
It links pilgrimage to bhakti-practice: hearing divine Hari-kathā day and night on the pilgrimage route, along with compassion, is portrayed as what gives the journey real spiritual value.
Travel to sacred sites with active kindness (non-harm, charity, respectful conduct) and keep devotional listening/recitation (Hari-kathā, stotra, purāṇa-śravaṇa) as a daily discipline rather than treating pilgrimage as mere tourism.