Shloka 29
Jāmbavatī’s Vaiṣṇava-Ācāra: Grace, Sense-Consecration, and Pilgrimage to Śrīnivāsa on Veṅkaṭādri
व्यर्थंव्यर्थं तस्य चाहुर्गतं वै अश्वादीनां वाहनानां च विद्धि / अश्वादीनामपराधं वदस्व गङ्गादीनां दर्शनात्पापनाशः
vyarthaṃvyarthaṃ tasya cāhurgataṃ vai aśvādīnāṃ vāhanānāṃ ca viddhi / aśvādīnāmaparādhaṃ vadasva gaṅgādīnāṃ darśanātpāpanāśaḥ
وہ کہتے ہیں کہ اُس کا جانا سراسر بےکار ہے؛ یہ گھوڑوں وغیرہ سواریوں سے متعلقہ اَپرادھ کے سبب ہے۔ گھوڑوں وغیرہ کے اَپرادھ بیان کرو؛ گنگا وغیرہ کے دیدار ہی سے پاپ نَشٹ ہو جاتے ہیں۔
Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Concept: Tīrtha has intrinsic purificatory power (darśana-mātra), yet aparādha can obstruct fruition; karma-phala depends on conduct during the act.
Vedantic Theme: Pratibandha (obstruction) to spiritual merit through aparādha; necessity of śuddha-ācāra to allow grace/merit to manifest.
Application: Travel to sacred places with non-violence and care for animals/vehicles and fellow travelers; avoid arrogance, harm, or exploitation that becomes ‘aparādha’.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: sacred river/tirtha
Related Themes: Garuda Purana: tīrtha-mahātmyas of Gaṅgā and other rivers; warnings about aparādha that blocks merit; Garuda Purana: lists of offences (aparādhas) in sacred contexts (general internal parallel)
FAQs
This verse states that mere darshana of the Ganga and other sacred rivers is a means of pāpa-nāśa (destruction of sins), emphasizing tirtha-darshana as a powerful purification practice.
It says a person’s ‘going’ becomes fruitless due to aparadha connected with mounts/vehicles (like horses), implying that unethical actions create karmic impediments until addressed through confession, correction, and expiation.
Practice non-harm and ethical conduct toward animals and public resources, avoid exploitation in travel/transport, and adopt purificatory disciplines—such as tirtha visits or mindful sacred remembrance—along with sincere repentance and restitution.