Shloka 25

Dāna-vrata and the Tīrtha Circuit of Venkaṭādri

Snāna, Mantra, Naivedya

Devanagari script

अत्र स्नानं मनुष्याणां नाल्पस्य तपसः फलम् / तत्र स्नात्वा च पीत्वा च दत्त्वा दानान्यकेशः

Transliteration

atra snānaṃ manuṣyāṇāṃ nālpasya tapasaḥ phalam / tatra snātvā ca pītvā ca dattvā dānānyakeśaḥ

Translation

การอาบน้ำ ณ ที่นี้สำหรับมนุษย์ มิใช่ผลของตบะเพียงเล็กน้อย; ครั้นอาบแล้ว ดื่มน้ำนั้น และถวายทาน ย่อมพ้นจากความทุกข์และมลทิน

Word by Word

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: स्थानवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• स्नानम्: bathing
• स्नानम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• मनुष्याणाम्: of humans
• मनुष्याणाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनुष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/genitive), बहुवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• अल्पस्य: of small (little)
• अल्पस्य: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अल्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (6th/genitive), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying तपसः)

• तपसः: of austerity
• तपसः: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/genitive), एकवचन

• फलम्: fruit/result
• फलम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: स्थानवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• स्नात्वा: having bathed
• स्नात्वा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्ना (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund), ‘having bathed’

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

• पीत्वा: having drunk
• पीत्वा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund), ‘having drunk’

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

• दत्त्वा: having given
• दत्त्वा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund), ‘having given’

• दानानि: gifts/charities
• दानानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), बहुवचन

• अकेशः: hairless (shaven-headed)
• अकेशः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-केश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/nominative), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि ‘यस्य केशाः न सन्ति’ (one who is without hair)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Tīrtha-sevā yields tapas-like fruit; combining snāna, pāna, and dāna produces strong purification and removal of affliction/impurity.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-yoga as śuddhi-hetu: right action performed in sacred context reduces mala (impurity) and supports higher realization.

Application: When visiting sacred places, complete the triad: bathe (or symbolically wash), sip sanctified water if appropriate, and give charity; pair outer acts with inner intention and restraint.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: tirtha (snāna-pāna-dāna triad at a sacred site)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.27.24 (paramā gati from bathing); Garuda Purana 3.27.23 (site’s sanctifying origin)

Characters & Entities

• Humans (Manushyas)

FAQs

What is the importance of sacred bathing (tīrtha-snān) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that bathing at the indicated sacred place gives a great result comparable to significant tapas, especially when joined with drinking the tīrtha water and giving dāna.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana practices around death rituals?

In the Preta Kanda context, purification and merit (puṇya) gained through snāna, tīrtha-jala-pāna, and dāna support auspicious outcomes connected with rites for the departed and the living performer’s purification.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Combine inner discipline with concrete acts: visit a sacred water-site respectfully, perform a ritual bath, take tīrtha water in moderation, and give charity—treating these as intentional practices of purification and merit.