Shloka 17
Veṅkaṭācala Māhātmya: Bhakti-Lakṣaṇa, Nārasiṁha-tīrtha, and the Secret Darśana-Vidhi of Śrīnivāsa
श्रीब्रह्मरुद्रादिदिवौकसां सदा तथा द्विजानां संमानायाश्च चिन्ता / विष्णोः सकाशाद्ब्रह्मरुद्रादिकानां सदाधिक्यालोचनं द्वेष एव
śrībrahmarudrādidivaukasāṃ sadā tathā dvijānāṃ saṃmānāyāśca cintā / viṣṇoḥ sakāśādbrahmarudrādikānāṃ sadādhikyālocanaṃ dveṣa eva
Ang laging pagkabalisa sa sariling dangal—maging sa hanay ng mga iginagalang na diyos tulad nina Brahmā at Rudra, o sa hanay ng mga dwija—at ang paghahambing sa sarili bilang “higit” kina Brahmā, Rudra at iba pa sa harap ni Viṣṇu: ito nga ay walang iba kundi poot at masamang loob.
Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda)
Concept: Honor-obsession and self-exaltation—even relative to Brahmā and Rudra—when held before Viṣṇu is not devotion but hatred (dveṣa).
Vedantic Theme: Antaryāmin/Īśvara-supremacy and the dissolution of ahaṅkāra; devotion requires humility and non-competitive reverence.
Application: Cultivate namratā: avoid status-comparisons in spiritual spaces; replace self-assertion with gratitude, service, and remembrance of Viṣṇu as the highest refuge.
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.24.18-19 (dveṣa defined as bheda-buddhi toward Viṣṇu and His bhaktas)
FAQs
This verse frames dvesha as a subtle inner vice: the urge to assert superiority and seek honor, even while standing before Viṣṇu, is identified as hatred in essence.
By exposing pride and envy as inner impurities, the verse implies that liberation-oriented conduct requires humility; such mental faults bind the soul through negative karma and obstruct spiritual progress.
Avoid status-comparisons, especially in religious spaces; cultivate respectful speech toward teachers and elders, and replace “I am greater” thinking with service (seva) and gratitude.