Shloka 25

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

with Dāna-Lakṣaṇas

Devanagari script

सुवर्णमुखरीतीरमारभ्य गरुडध्वजः / श्रीकृष्णवेणीपर्यन्तं स्थापया मास तं गिरिम्

Transliteration

suvarṇamukharītīramārabhya garuḍadhvajaḥ / śrīkṛṣṇaveṇīparyantaṃ sthāpayā māsa taṃ girim

Translation

Mula sa pampang ng Suvarṇamukharī hanggang sa Śrīkṛṣṇaveṇī, si Garuḍadhvaja—ang Panginoong may watawat ni Garuḍa—ang nagpatatag at nagpausbong sa bundok na iyon.

Word by Word

• सुवर्णमुखरीतीरम्: the bank called Suvarṇamukharī
• सुवर्णमुखरीतीरम्: अपादान (अपादानम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुवर्ण + मुखरि + तीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; समासः—(सुवर्णस्य मुखरि इव) तीरम् (determinative)

• आरभ्य: starting from
• आरभ्य: सम्बन्ध/अव्यय-प्रयोग
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ-रभ् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund), ‘having begun from/starting from’

• गरुडध्वजः: Garuḍa-bannered (Viṣṇu)
• गरुडध्वजः: कर्ता (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गरुड + ध्वज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘गरुडः ध्वजः यस्य सः’ इति बहुव्रीह्यर्थे रूढ-नाम (Viṣṇu)

• श्रीकृष्णवेणीपर्यन्तम्: up to Śrīkṛṣṇaveṇī
• श्रीकृष्णवेणीपर्यन्तम्: अधिकरण (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: श्री + कृष्ण + वेणी + पर्यन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; ‘पर्यन्तम्’ इति अव्यय-प्रयोगः (up to)

• स्थापयामास: established/placed
• स्थापयामास: क्रिया (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु) + णिच् (causative)
• Form: लिट् (परस्मैपद, periphrastic perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; causative—‘caused to be placed/established’

• तम्: that
• तम्: कर्म (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• गिरिम्: mountain
• गिरिम्: कर्म (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (Garuḍadhvaja), as narrated in the Vishnu–Garuda dialogue

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Sacred space is divinely instituted to support worship; geography becomes a vehicle for remembrance and devotion.

Vedantic Theme: The sacred is not confined—Brahman/Īśvara pervades places, yet tīrthas concentrate devotion through sanctioned loci.

Application: Treat places of practice (home altar, temple, nature sites) as intentionally ‘established’ supports—maintain them with cleanliness, regularity, and gratitude.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: riverine sacred corridor; mountain/kshetra boundary

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.26.24 (descent to Earth to enable worship)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Suvarṇamukharī
• Śrīkṛṣṇaveṇī

FAQs

What is the importance of sacred geography (tīrthas and boundaries) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames holiness in spatial terms—by naming river-banks and endpoints, it presents sacred places as divinely established zones that support dharma, pilgrimage, and ritual merit.

How does this verse relate to the Garuda Purana’s broader themes of dharma and cosmic order?

By stating that Lord Viṣṇu “established” a mountain across a defined stretch, the verse depicts the world’s structure as purposeful and dharmic, with holy regions set apart for spiritual practice.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat pilgrimage, river-banks, and temples as disciplines of remembrance: approach sacred places with restraint, cleanliness, charity, and devotion rather than tourism alone.