Shloka 99

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

with Dāna-Lakṣaṇas

Devanagari script

इन्द्रतीर्थे महादेवि सीताराम भिधाशिला / या तद्दानं दुर्लभं तन्नाल्पस्य तपसः फलम्

Transliteration

indratīrthe mahādevi sītārāma bhidhāśilā / yā taddānaṃ durlabhaṃ tannālpasya tapasaḥ phalam

Translation

اے مہادیوی، اندرتیرتھ میں ‘سیتا–رام’ نام کی ایک شِلا ہے؛ اس شِلا کا دان نایاب ہے—یہ تھوڑی تپسیا کا پھل نہیں، عظیم تپسیا سے ہی یہ پُنّیہ حاصل ہوتا ہے۔

Word by Word

• इन्द्रतीर्थे: at Indra-tīrtha
• इन्द्रतीर्थे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्र + तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन (Locative singular)

• महादेवि: O great goddess
• महादेवि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महादेवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन (Vocative singular)

• सीतारामाभिधाशिला: the stone called 'Sītā-Rāma'
• सीतारामाभिधाशिला: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सीता + राम + अभिधा + शिला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन (Nominative singular)

• या: which
• या: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन (relative pronoun; Nominative singular)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; निर्देशक (demonstrative)

• दानम्: gift/donation
• दानम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• दुर्लभम्: rare
• दुर्लभम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्लभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषण

• तत्: that
• तत्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; निर्देशक

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

• अल्पस्य: of little (small)
• अल्पस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अल्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन; विशेषण (Genitive singular)

• तपसः: of austerity
• तपसः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन (Genitive singular)

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

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Extraordinary religious merit (puṇya) arises from rare sacred gifts and is proportionate to austerity (tapas) and spiritual effort.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala governed by dharma and inner qualification; tapas as purifier enabling higher acts of devotion/charity.

Application: If undertaking tīrtha-yātrā, approach with discipline (vows, purity, restraint); treat sacred offerings as responsibility, not display; cultivate tapas (fasting, truthfulness, simplicity) to qualify for higher dāna.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: tīrtha (sacred ford/pilgrimage site)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.26.100 (alternative merit via śravaṇa when dāna is impossible); Garuda Purana 3.26.97-98 (Sītā–Rāma identification and kośaka)

Characters & Entities

• Indra
• Sita
• Rama

FAQs

What is the importance of tirtha-dana (gifting at sacred places) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights that certain offerings at specific tīrthas—like the ‘Sītā–Rāma’ śilā at Indra-tīrtha—are considered exceptionally meritorious and are attainable only through substantial tapas, underscoring the high spiritual value of tīrtha-dāna.

How does this verse connect dana and tapas in the Garuda Purana’s framework of punya?

It states that the opportunity and merit of such a rare gift are not produced by minor effort; rather, significant austerity (tapas) ripens into circumstances and devotion that enable high-grade dāna and its resulting punya.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat charity and ritual giving as disciplined spiritual practice: give with sincerity, purity, and restraint, and pair donations with personal tapas such as self-control, truthfulness, and regular worship.