Shloka 49

Gayā-kṣetra and Phalgu Tīrtha: Sites, Rites, and the Liberation of the Pitṛs

Devanagari script

क्रौञ्चपादादुत्तरतो निश्चिराख्यो जलाशयः / सकृद्यत्राभिगमनं सकृत्पिंण्डप्रपातनम्

Transliteration

krauñcapādāduttarato niścirākhyo jalāśayaḥ / sakṛdyatrābhigamanaṃ sakṛtpiṃṇḍaprapātanam

Translation

إلى شمال كراونچابادا (Krauñcapāda) بحيرة تُدعى نيشچيرا (Niścirā). هناك لا يُزار الموضع إلا مرةً واحدة، ولا يُلقى قربان البِنْدَة (piṇḍa) إلا مرةً واحدة.

Word by Word

• क्रौञ्चपादात्: from Krauñca’s footprint/place called Krauñcapāda
• क्रौञ्चपादात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रौञ्चपाद (प्रातिपदिक; क्रौञ्च + पाद)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (क्रौञ्चस्य पादः)

• उत्तरतः: to the north
• उत्तरतः: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; दिशावाचक-क्रियाविशेषण

• निश्चिराख्यः: named Niścirā
• निश्चिराख्यः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निश्चिरा + आख्य (प्रातिपदिक; निश्चिरा-आख्या)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (निश्चिरायाः आख्यः = named 'Niścirā')

• जलाशयः: a water-reservoir
• जलाशयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जलाशय (प्रातिपदिक; जल + आशय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुष (जलस्य आशयः)

• सकृत्: once
• सकृत्: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सकृत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; परिमाण/आवृत्ति-बोधक (adverb of frequency)

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सम्बन्ध/देशवाचक (relative locative adverb: where)

• अभिगमनम्: approaching/going (to it)
• अभिगमनम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभि + गम् (धातु) → अभिगमन (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त-भाव)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भाववाचक-नाम (action noun)

• सकृत्: once
• सकृत्: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सकृत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; आवृत्ति-बोधक

• पिण्डप्रपातनम्: the dropping/offering of a piṇḍa (rice-ball)
• पिण्डप्रपातनम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड + प्रपातन (प्रातिपदिक; प्र + पत् (धातु) → प्रपातन)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुष (पिण्डस्य प्रपातनम्); भाववाचक

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: At Niścirā jalāśaya; ‘sakṛt’ (only once) for both visit and piṇḍa-prapātana

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Niyama (rule-bound discipline) governs sacred actions; efficacy is tied to obedience, not repetition.

Vedantic Theme: Discipline (niyama) as a purifier; right measure (mātrā) in karma prevents attachment and mechanical excess.

Application: If performing rites at Niścirā, follow the injunction: one visit and one piṇḍa-offering; do not multiply offerings out of anxiety—complete the act with full attention and correct saṅkalpa.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: lake/pond with regulated ritual protocol

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.83.47 (Niścirā-maṇḍala); Garuda Purana 1.83.48 (Krauñcapāda context)

Characters & Entities

• Krauñcapāda
• Niścirā
• Piṇḍa

FAQs

What is the importance of Niścirā lake in the Garuda Purana?

This verse identifies Niścirā as a specific waypoint on the post-death route where a prescribed, single-time ritual offering (piṇḍa) is to be performed, emphasizing ordered observance rather than repetition.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

It presents the journey as passing through named locations (tīrtha-like stations), where specific rites such as piṇḍa offerings are assigned, suggesting a structured progression for the preta guided by dharmic ritual support.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Follow śrāddha/antyeṣṭi guidance with discipline—perform offerings as prescribed by tradition and competent priests rather than improvising or repeating rites without scriptural basis.