Shloka 43
Veṅkaṭeśa-Māhātmya: Varāha Prelude, Descent of Śeṣācala, Svāmipuṣkariṇī and the Network of Tīrthas
with Dāna-Lakṣaṇas
तीर्थानां स्नानमात्रेण मोक्षं यान्तीति ये विदुः / ते सर्वे असुरा ज्ञेयास्ते यान्ति ह्यधमां गतिम्
tīrthānāṃ snānamātreṇa mokṣaṃ yāntīti ye viduḥ / te sarve asurā jñeyāste yānti hyadhamāṃ gatim
ผู้ใดเห็นว่าเพียงสรงน้ำในสถานที่ตถาคต (ตีรถะ) ก็ได้โมกษะ ผู้นั้นพึงรู้ว่าเป็นผู้มีทิฐิอสูรแท้; เขาย่อมไปสู่คติอันต่ำทราม
Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Afterlife Stage: Naraka
Concept: Mokṣa is not produced by a single external act; believing so is a delusion that leads to spiritual degradation.
Vedantic Theme: Karma cannot directly generate mokṣa; liberation arises from jñāna (often supported by bhakti and purification), not from ritualism alone.
Application: Use rituals as supports for purification and devotion; avoid transactional spirituality; examine motives and cultivate knowledge, ethics, and steady practice.
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa
Type: tīrtha network (pan-Indian pilgrimage sites)
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.26.42 (sat-saṅga → jñāna → mokṣa)
FAQs
No. This verse rejects the idea that liberation comes merely from a ritual bath; it implies that inner transformation and dharmic living are essential.
The Garuda Purana repeatedly emphasizes that post-death outcomes depend on one’s karma and dharma, not on superficial acts; this verse warns that mistaking ritual alone for moksha leads to an inferior destination.
Treat pilgrimage and ritual purity as supportive practices, but prioritize ethical conduct, self-discipline, and sincere spiritual practice rather than relying on a single external act for liberation.