Shloka 52

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

with Dāna-Lakṣaṇas

Devanagari script

सुदुर्लभो वायुतीर्थे ऽभिषेको निष्कामबुद्ध्या वैष्णवानां च देवि / तत्रापि तीर्थे लभ्यते भाग्ययोगाद्भागवतस्य श्रवणं विष्णुदासैः

Transliteration

sudurlabho vāyutīrthe 'bhiṣeko niṣkāmabuddhyā vaiṣṇavānāṃ ca devi / tatrāpi tīrthe labhyate bhāgyayogādbhāgavatasya śravaṇaṃ viṣṇudāsaiḥ

Translation

ข้าแต่เทวี การได้อภิเษกสรง ณ วายุทีรถะด้วยจิตไร้ความใคร่ และได้อยู่ร่วมกับเหล่าไวษณพนั้นหาได้ยากยิ่ง แม้ ณ ที่ศักดิ์สิทธิ์นั้นเอง ด้วยวาสนาสมบัติ จึงได้ฟังภาควตะจากเหล่าผู้เป็นทาสแห่งพระวิษณุ

Word by Word

• सु-दुर्लभः: very rare
• सु-दुर्लभः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (अव्यय-उपसर्ग/उपपद) + दुर्लभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (very rare)

• वायु-तीर्थे: at Vāyutīrtha
• वायु-तीर्थे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु (प्रातिपदिक) + तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• अभिषेकः: ablution/ritual bathing
• अभिषेकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभिषेक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• निष्काम-बुद्ध्या: with desireless intent
• निष्काम-बुद्ध्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निष्काम (प्रातिपदिक) + बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (‘with desireless intention’)

• वैष्णवानाम्: of the Vaishnavas
• वैष्णवानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैष्णव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

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

• देवि: O देवी
• देवि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

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

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/सम्भावना-निपात (also/even)

• तीर्थे: in the sacred place
• तीर्थे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• लभ्यते: is obtained
• लभ्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: लट्, आत्मनेपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive): ‘is obtained’

• भाग्य-योगात्: due to good fortune
• भाग्य-योगात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाग्य (प्रातिपदिक) + योग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative), एकवचन; हेत्वर्थ (cause): ‘due to fortunate conjunction’

• भागवतस्य: of the Bhāgavata (Purāṇa)
• भागवतस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भागवत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (contextual), षष्ठी, एकवचन

• श्रवणम्: hearing/recitation (act of listening)
• श्रवणम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रवण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• विष्णु-दासैः: by Vishnu’s devotees
• विष्णु-दासैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक) + दास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (‘by servants/devotees of Viṣṇu’)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Niṣkāma (desireless) intention and Vaiṣṇava-saṅga elevate tīrtha acts; Bhāgavata-śravaṇa is a grace-dependent gateway to devotion.

Vedantic Theme: Sādhana depends on śuddha-antaḥkaraṇa (purified mind) and satsanga; śravaṇa as a primary limb of bhakti leading toward God-realization.

Application: Seek pilgrimages as opportunities for inner purification; prioritize listening to authentic scripture from devoted teachers over mere ritual tourism.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: tīrtha (bathing/abhisheka site)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.26.51 (merit known by Hari); Garuda Purana 3.26.53-55 (rarity of Śālagrāma-dāna and mūrti-dāna at the tīrtha)

Characters & Entities

• Devi
• Vishnu
• Vaishnavas
• Vishnudasas
• Bhagavata
• Vayu-tirtha

FAQs

What is the importance of Vāyu-tīrtha abhiṣeka in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents the Vāyu-tīrtha bath as a rare spiritual attainment when done with niṣkāma (desireless) intent and in Vaiṣṇava company, emphasizing inner motive and satsang over mere ritual.

Why does the verse emphasize hearing the Bhāgavata from Viṣṇu’s devotees?

It teaches that true benefit arises not only from visiting a tīrtha but from receiving living instruction—Bhāgavata śravaṇa—through Viṣṇu’s servants, which is said to occur only by accumulated good fortune (bhāgya-yoga).

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Approach rituals and pilgrimages with selfless intention, seek the company of sincere practitioners, and regularly listen to or study Bhāgavata teachings from authentic teachers to deepen devotion and ethical living.