Shloka 107

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

with Dāna-Lakṣaṇas

Devanagari script

तत्र स्नानं च दानं चाप्यक्षयं परमं स्मृतम् / शालग्रामशिलादानं कार्यं तत्र महामुने

Transliteration

tatra snānaṃ ca dānaṃ cāpyakṣayaṃ paramaṃ smṛtam / śālagrāmaśilādānaṃ kāryaṃ tatra mahāmune

Translation

ณ ที่นั้น การอาบน้ำชำระและการให้ทาน ถูกจดจำว่าให้บุญอันสูงสุดไม่เสื่อมสูญ โอมหามุนี พึงกระทำการถวายศิลา ศาลคราม (Śālagrāma) ณ ที่นั้นเถิด

Word by Word

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• स्नानम्: bathing
• स्नानम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• दानम्: giving/charity
• दानम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्भावना/समुच्चय-अव्यय (particle: also/even)

• अक्षयम्: imperishable
• अक्षयम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अक्षय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• परमम्: supreme
• परमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• स्मृतम्: is regarded
• स्मृतम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; “is considered/remembered”

• शालग्रामशिलादानम्: gift of a Śālagrāma stone
• शालग्रामशिलादानम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शालग्राम-शिला-दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुष (शालग्रामशिलायाः दानम्)

• कार्यम्: should be done
• कार्यम्: Vidhi (विधि)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त, यत्-प्रत्यय (gerundive/भाव्य); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; “to be done/should be done”

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय

• महामुने: O great sage
• महामुने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महामुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारय (महान् मुनिः)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Akṣaya-puṇya arises when charity is offered with devotion at a sanctified locus, especially through gifting Śālagrāma (Viṣṇu-svarūpa).

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara-ārpaṇa-buddhi and tīrtha-saṃskāra: actions dedicated to Viṣṇu become spiritually enduring; karma is refined by sacred context and intention.

Application: Perform tīrtha-snāna with purity, then give dāna—especially Śālagrāma or Vaiṣṇava-related gifts—to qualified recipients with sankalpa and humility.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: tirtha

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (tīrtha-mahātmyas and dāna-prakaraṇa passages where ‘akṣaya’ merit is promised for tīrtha-snāna and dāna); Garuda Purana (Vaiṣṇava-dāna praise: Śālagrāma/Viṣṇu-pratimā-dāna sections)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Shalagrama

FAQs

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

This verse states that gifting a Śālagrāma stone is a prescribed act whose merit is regarded as supreme and imperishable, linking charity to Viṣṇu-centric sanctity.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana death rituals and merit (puṇya)?

It emphasizes that specific acts—ritual bathing (snāna) and charitable giving (dāna)—done in the appropriate sacred context yield akṣaya (inexhaustible) merit, a key aim of post-death rites.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform acts of purification and meaningful charity with devotional intent—especially Viṣṇu-related giving—during memorial observances, pilgrimages, or sacred occasions, focusing on sincerity and dharmic generosity.