Shloka 92

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

with Dāna-Lakṣaṇas

Devanagari script

शालग्रामशिलादानं कर्तव्यं श्रोत्रियायवै / शालग्रामशिलादानं हत्याकोटिविनाशनम्

Transliteration

śālagrāmaśilādānaṃ kartavyaṃ śrotriyāyavai / śālagrāmaśilādānaṃ hatyākoṭivināśanam

Translation

شروتریہ، وید دان برہمن کو شالگرام شِلا کا دان ضرور کرنا چاہیے۔ شالگرام شِلا کا دان قتل کے کروڑوں گناہوں کو بھی مٹا دیتا ہے۔

Word by Word

• śālagrāmaśilādānam: gift of Shalagrama stone
• śālagrāmaśilādānam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śālagrāmaśilādāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• kartavyam: should be done
• kartavyam: Vidheya (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Tavya Pratyaya (Gerundive), Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• śrotriyāya: to a learned Brahmin
• śrotriyāya: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrotriya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular

• vai: indeed/verily
• vai: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle

• śālagrāmaśilādānam: gift of Shalagrama stone
• śālagrāmaśilādānam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śālagrāmaśilādāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• hatyākoṭivināśanam: destroyer of millions of sins (killings)
• hatyākoṭivināśanam: Vidheya (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hatyākoṭivināśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śālagrāma-dāna to a qualified recipient destroys even mahāpātaka-scale sin (homicide) through Viṣṇu-sambandha and proper dāna-vidhi.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara-anugraha mediated through bhakti and dharmic action; pāpa-kṣaya enabling sattva and spiritual progress.

Application: Offer Śālagrāma (with due purity, sankalpa, and dakṣiṇā) to a śrotriya brāhmaṇa; prioritize recipient-qualification and intention (śraddhā) in charitable acts.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.26 (dāna-mahātmyas around śilā/śālagrāma); Garuda Purana Pretakalpa themes: pāpa-kṣaya through dharma and Viṣṇu-smṛti

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Śālagrāma
• Śrotriya

FAQs

What is the importance of Śālagrāma-śilā dāna in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents Śālagrāma donation as a highly potent act of merit and expiation, especially when offered properly to a śrotriya (Veda-versed) recipient.

How does this verse relate to sins and their consequences described in the Garuda Purana?

By stating that Śālagrāma-śilā dāna destroys even vast measures of ‘hatyā’ sin, it frames dāna as a prāyaścitta that can lessen karmic burden relevant to post-death outcomes discussed in the Preta Kanda.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If undertaking religious giving, prioritize correctness of intention and worthy recipients (learned and disciplined), treating charity as a disciplined spiritual practice rather than mere display.