Shloka 103

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

with Dāna-Lakṣaṇas

Devanagari script

ज्ञात्वा स्नानं दुष्करं तीर्थराजे भक्तिस्तस्मिन्दुर्ल्लभा चैव देवि / शालग्रामे तच्छिलायाश्च दानं सुदुर्लभं वासुदेवाभिधायाः

Transliteration

jñātvā snānaṃ duṣkaraṃ tīrtharāje bhaktistasmindurllabhā caiva devi / śālagrāme tacchilāyāśca dānaṃ sudurlabhaṃ vāsudevābhidhāyāḥ

Translation

హే దేవీ, ‘తీర్థరాజ’ములో స్నానం దుష్కరమని, ఆ తీర్థముపై భక్తి దుర్లభమని తెలిసికొని—వాసుదేవ అనే శాలగ్రామ శిలను దానం చేయుట అత్యంత దుర్లభమై మహాపుణ్యప్రదమని కూడా తెలుసుకొనుము.

Word by Word

• jñātvā: having known
• jñātvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jñā (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा), ‘having known’

• snānam: bathing
• snānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: snāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• duṣkaram: difficult
• duṣkaram: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: duṣkara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; adjective qualifying snānam

• tīrtha-rāje: in the king of tīrthas
• tīrtha-rāje: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tīrtha (प्रातिपदिक) + rāja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; तत्पुरुष (tīrthānāṃ rājā)

• bhaktiḥ: devotion
• bhaktiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• tasmin: in that (place)
• tasmin: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; pronoun

• durllabhā: hard to obtain
• durllabhā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: durlabhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; agrees with bhaktiḥ

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha/Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), emphasis

• devi: O Goddess
• devi: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular

• śālagrāme: in Śālagrāma
• śālagrāme: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śālagrāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• tat-śilāyāḥ: of that stone
• tat-śilāyāḥ: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + śilā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; tat as pronominal determiner

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

• dānam: gift/charity
• dānam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• su-durlabham: extremely rare
• su-durlabham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (अव्यय) + durlabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; adjective qualifying dānam; su as intensifier

• vāsudeva-abhidhāyāḥ: (of the stone) called Vāsudeva
• vāsudeva-abhidhāyāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vāsudeva (प्रातिपदिक) + abhidhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; qualifies śilā; तत्पुरुष (vāsudevasya abhidhā yasyāḥ) ‘having the name Vāsudeva’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating sacred merits to Garuda; vocative 'devi' appears in the verse as a traditional address in some recensions)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Rarity (durlabhatā) heightens value: devotion to the supreme tīrtha and gifting Śālagrāma-śilā identified with Vāsudeva are extraordinary acts of merit.

Vedantic Theme: Saguṇa-upāsanā through arcā (Śālagrāma) as a potent support for devotion and purification; the divine is approachable through consecrated form.

Application: If one has access, honor sacred places with sincere devotion; support temples/priests/devotees by gifting authentic sacred objects responsibly and ethically sourced.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: tirtha (sacred complex) / sacred stone provenance

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.26.104 (iconographic lakṣaṇa of Vāsudeva-śilā); Garuda Purana 3.26.105 (alternative: bathe at Vāsudeva-tīrtha and hear lakṣaṇa)

Characters & Entities

• Vasudeva (Vishnu)
• Shalagrama

FAQs

What is the importance of Śālagrāma-dāna in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that donating the Śālagrāma śilā—identified with Vāsudeva—is extremely rare and therefore highly meritorious, placing it among the most powerful acts of sacred charity and devotion.

How does this verse relate to purification and the soul’s journey after death?

By emphasizing difficult-to-attain tīrtha-bathing and rare Viṣṇu-centered charity, the verse points to practices believed to generate strong puṇya (merit), which the Garuda Purana frequently connects with easing post-death transitions and reducing karmic obstacles.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate sincere devotion, undertake pilgrimages or sacred bathing with discipline when possible, and prioritize meaningful charity—especially offerings connected to Viṣṇu worship—done with faith and ethical conduct.