Shloka 101

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

with Dāna-Lakṣaṇas

Devanagari script

आग्नेयकोणे श्रीनिवासस्य देवि तीर्थं त्वास्ते वह्निसंज्ञं सुशस्तम् / स वह्निदेवः श्रीनिवासस्य पूजां कर्तुं ह्यास्ते सर्वदा तीर्थमध्ये

Transliteration

āgneyakoṇe śrīnivāsasya devi tīrthaṃ tvāste vahnisaṃjñaṃ suśastam / sa vahnidevaḥ śrīnivāsasya pūjāṃ kartuṃ hyāste sarvadā tīrthamadhye

Translation

โอเทวี ณ มุมอาคเนย์แห่งเขตศักดิ์สิทธิ์ของศรีนิวาส มีตีรถะอันประเสริฐชื่อ ‘วหฺนิ’; ณ กลางตีรถะนั้น เทพอัคนี (วหฺนิ) สถิตอยู่เสมอเพื่อบูชาศรีนิวาส

Word by Word

• āgneya-koṇe: in the south-east corner
• āgneya-koṇe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āgneya (प्रातिपदिक) + koṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; तत्पुरुष-समास (āgneyasya koṇe)

• śrīnivāsasya: of Śrīnivāsa
• śrīnivāsasya: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrīnivāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

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

• tīrtham: a sacred ford/place (tīrtha)
• tīrtham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tīrtha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

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

• āste: is situated/exists
• āste: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ās (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada; ‘sits/exists’

• vahni-saṃjñam: named ‘Vahni’
• vahni-saṃjñam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vahni (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃjñā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; adjective qualifying tīrtham; तत्पुरुष (vahneḥ saṃjñā yasya)

• suśastam: highly praised/excellent
• suśastam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: suśasta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; adjective qualifying tīrtham

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; pronoun

• vahni-devaḥ: the fire-god (Agni)
• vahni-devaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vahni (प्रातिपदिक) + deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; कर्मधारय (vahniḥ eva devaḥ)

• śrīnivāsasya: of Śrīnivāsa
• śrīnivāsasya: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrīnivāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• pūjām: worship
• pūjām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pūjā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• kartum: to perform
• kartum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Infinitive (तुमुन्), ‘to do/perform’

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

• āste: remains/is present
• āste: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ās (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada

• sarvadā: always
• sarvadā: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sarvadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• tīrtha-madhye: in the middle of the tīrtha
• tīrtha-madhye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tīrtha (प्रातिपदिक) + madhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; तत्पुरुष (tīrthasya madhye)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (Śrīnivāsa) speaking to Garuda (Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Even devas embody sevā (service): Agni remains to worship Śrīnivāsa, teaching humility and constancy in devotion.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara as the supreme object of worship for all beings; sevā-bhāva as a purifier of ego and a stabilizer of mind.

Application: Adopt steady worship/service (nitya-sevā); honor directionality and ritual order (āgneya/fire principle) in pūjā; cultivate humility by remembering even Agni serves the Lord.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: tīrtha within a kṣetra/temple precinct

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.26.97-100 (Sītā–Rāma marks/kośaka/śilā-dāna/śravaṇa merit)

Characters & Entities

• Śrīnivāsa
• Vahni (Agni)
• Devi
• Tīrtha

FAQs

What is the importance of Vahni Tirtha in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents Vahni Tīrtha as an especially praised sacred spot where Agni is said to remain and continually worship Śrīnivāsa, highlighting its sanctity and ritual power.

How does this verse explain the role of Agni in worship?

It portrays Agni not only as a ritual principle but as a divine presence who actively performs pūjā to Śrīnivāsa, reinforcing Agni’s centrality in consecration and temple worship.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Approach pilgrimage and worship with reverence for tīrthas and for Agni’s purifying role—maintain ritual cleanliness, offer lamps/fire with devotion, and treat sacred spaces as living centers of worship.