Shloka 6

Śālagrāma–Sudarśana-Vyūha Nirūpaṇa, Tīrtha-Saṅgraha, Samvatsara-Nāma, and Mantra-Rakṣā

Devanagari script

शालग्रामो द्वारका च नैमिषं पुष्करं गया / वाराणसी प्रयागश्च कुरुक्षेत्रं च सूकरम्

Transliteration

śālagrāmo dvārakā ca naimiṣaṃ puṣkaraṃ gayā / vārāṇasī prayāgaśca kurukṣetraṃ ca sūkaram

Translation

శాలగ్రామం, ద్వారక, నైమిషం, పుష్కరం, గయ; వారాణసి, ప్రయాగ, కురుక్షేత్రం, సూకరం—ఇవి ప్రసిద్ధ తీర్థస్థానాలు.

Word by Word

• शालग्रामः: Śālagrāma
• शालग्रामः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शालग्राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• द्वारका: Dvārakā
• द्वारका: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वारका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha/Connector (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (and)

• नैमिषम्: Naimiṣa
• नैमिषम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नैमिष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; तीर्थनाम

• पुष्करम्: Puṣkara
• पुष्करम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; तीर्थनाम

• गया: Gayā
• गया: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तीर्थनाम

• वाराणसी: Vārāṇasī
• वाराणसी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाराणसी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तीर्थ/नगरनाम

• प्रयागः: Prayāga
• प्रयागः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रयाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तीर्थनाम

• च: and
• च: Sambandha/Connector (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (and)

• कुरुक्षेत्रम्: Kurukṣetra
• कुरुक्षेत्रम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुरु + क्षेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (कुरूणां क्षेत्रम्)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha/Connector (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (and)

• सूकरम्: Sūkara (holy place)
• सूकरम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; तीर्थनाम

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in dialogue instruction to Garuḍa/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Pilgrimage to renowned tīrthas is a dharmic means of purification and merit, supporting devotion and inner transformation.

Vedantic Theme: External tīrtha as an aid to internal tīrtha (purified mind); karma-yoga leading toward śānti.

Application: Plan yātrā with ethical conduct, charity, and japa; if travel is impossible, perform mānasa-tīrtha (mental pilgrimage) through daily remembrance.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: tirtha

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.66 (tīrtha enumeration continues into rivers and deities)

Characters & Entities

• Viṣṇu
• Śālagrāma
• Dvārakā
• Naimiṣa
• Puṣkara
• Gayā
• Vārāṇasī (Kāśī)
• Prayāga
• Kurukṣetra
• Sūkara-tīrtha

FAQs

What is the importance of these tīrthas in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

This verse functions as a compact enumeration of highly revered pilgrimage sites, pointing to tīrtha-yātrā as a dharmic means of purification and merit within the Ācāra (conduct) teachings.

How does this verse relate to death rites like śrāddha and piṇḍa-dāna?

By naming Gayā—widely associated with śrāddha and piṇḍa-dāna—the verse implicitly connects pilgrimage with ancestral rites and the broader Garuḍa Purāṇa emphasis on proper observances for spiritual welfare.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Even without travel, one can honor the spirit of tīrtha by supporting dharmic living—truthfulness, charity, and remembrance of sacred places—while performing family rites (like śrāddha) with sincerity and scriptural care.