Shloka 8

Tīrtha-Māhātmya: Catalog of Sacred Places and the Supreme Inner Tīrtha

Devanagari script

वैनायकं महीतीर्थं रामगिर्याश्रमं परम् / काञ्चीपुरी तुङ्गभद्रा श्रीशैलं सेतुबन्धनम्

Transliteration

vaināyakaṃ mahītīrthaṃ rāmagiryāśramaṃ param / kāñcīpurī tuṅgabhadrā śrīśailaṃ setubandhanam

Translation

వైనాయకం, మహీతీర్థం, రామగిరి పరమాశ్రమం; కాంచీపురి, తుంగభద్రా, శ్రీశైలం, సేతుబంధనం—ఇవి పుణ్యతీర్థాలు.

Word by Word

• वैनायकम्: Vaināyaka (sacred place of Vināyaka)
• वैनायकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैनायक (प्रातिपदिक; विनायक-सम्बन्धी)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• महीतीर्थम्: Mahī-tīrtha
• महीतीर्थम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मही + तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• रामगिर्याश्रमम्: Rāmagiri-āśrama
• रामगिर्याश्रमम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रामगिरि + आश्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Visheshana (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (रामगिर्याश्रमम्)

• काञ्चीपुरी: Kāñcīpurī
• काञ्चीपुरी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काञ्ची + पुरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• तुङ्गभद्रा: Tuṅgabhadrā (river)
• तुङ्गभद्रा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तुङ्ग + भद्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• श्रीशैलम्: Śrīśaila
• श्रीशैलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री + शैल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• सेतुबन्धनम्: Setubandhana (Rāma’s bridge/holy place)
• सेतुबन्धनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सेतु + बन्धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Tīrtha-darśana as dhārmic reinforcement—aligning life with sacred memory, vows, and purification.

Vedantic Theme: External pilgrimage as support for internal yātrā: turning the mind from viṣaya to īśvara-smṛti; sādhana through saṃskāra and niyama.

Application: Plan pilgrimage with ethical disciplines (ahiṃsā, satya, brahmacarya as appropriate), charity at kṣetras, and mindful river reverence (non-pollution, conservation).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: tīrtha / āśrama / purī / nadī / parvata-kṣetra / setu-kṣetra

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: recurring tīrtha enumerations and praise of Setu/Rāmeśvara in tīrtha contexts (general internal motif)

Characters & Entities

• Vainayaka
• Mahitirtha
• Ramagiri
• Kanchipuri
• Tungabhadra
• Srishaila
• Setubandhana

FAQs

What is the importance of listing tīrthas (pilgrimage sites) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse preserves a canonical map of revered kṣetras and rivers, emphasizing that pilgrimage to such tīrthas is a recognized means of accruing puṇya (spiritual merit) within the Ācāra-kāṇḍa framework.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey or afterlife themes in the Garuda Purana?

While this specific verse is not describing Yama’s realm or preta-journey directly, it supports the broader Garuda Purana ethic that dharmic acts—like tīrtha-yātrā—build puṇya that influences one’s post-death trajectory and wellbeing.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat sacred travel as disciplined dharma: visit tīrthas with ethical conduct, simplicity, and devotion, and pair pilgrimage with charity, japa, and respectful behavior at rivers and temples.