Shloka 50

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

Devanagari script

दुर्लभं किं पुनर्नित्यमस्मिन्नेव व्यवस्थितिः / महानद्यामुपस्पृश्य तर्पयेत्पितृदेवताः

Transliteration

durlabhaṃ kiṃ punarnityamasminneva vyavasthitiḥ / mahānadyāmupaspṛśya tarpayetpitṛdevatāḥ

Translation

فإن كان هذا نفسه عسيرَ المنال، فكم بالأحرى يكون العسيرُ الثباتَ فيه على الدوام! لذلك، بعد الاغتسال في نهرٍ عظيم، فليقدّم المرء تَرْپَنَة (tarpaṇa) سكبَ الماء قربانًا للبِتْرِس (Pitṛs) وللآلهة.

Word by Word

• दुर्लभम्: difficult to obtain
• दुर्लभम्: None
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्लभ (प्रातिपदिक; दुर् + लभ)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (predicative)

• किम्: what?
• किम्: None
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक

• पुनः: again; moreover
• पुनः: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरुक्ति/अधिक्य-बोधक (again/further)

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय-प्रयोग (adverbial accusative); कालवाचक (always)

• अस्मिन्: in this (place)
• अस्मिन्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• एव: indeed; only
• एव: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphasis/only)

• व्यवस्थितिः: residence/remaining
• व्यवस्थितिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यवस्थिति (प्रातिपदिक; वि + अव + स्था → व्यवस्था/व्यवस्थिति)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• महानद्याम्: in the great river
• महानद्याम्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महानदी (प्रातिपदिक; महा + नदी)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारय (महती नदी)

• उपस्पृश्य: having touched/bathed in
• उपस्पृश्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालिक क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप + स्पृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); पूर्वकालिक-क्रिया (having touched/bathed)

• तर्पयेत्: should satisfy/offer libations to
• तर्पयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तृप्/तर्प् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• पितृदेवताः: the ancestral deities
• पितृदेवताः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृदेवता (प्रातिपदिक; पितृ + देवता)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), बहुवचन; समासः तत्पुरुष (पितॄणां देवताः = ancestral deities)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: After bathing (upaspṛśya) in a great river; suitable as regular/occasional practice when stricter observance is difficult

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: When higher or rarer observances are difficult, perform feasible dharmic essentials—snāna and tarpaṇa—to uphold pitṛ and deva obligations.

Vedantic Theme: Adhikāra-bheda (practice according to capacity) and anukalpa (permitted alternative) within dharma; sincerity and regularity over unattainable ideals.

Application: If unable to undertake extended pilgrimage/strict observances, regularly bathe (or ritually purify) and offer tarpaṇa to pitṛs and devas with mantra and water, coupled with charity/feeding.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: river (nadī) used for snāna and tarpaṇa

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.83.47–49 (specialized tīrtha rules contrasted with accessible tarpaṇa); Garuda Purana śrāddha/tarpaṇa sections emphasizing regular pitṛ-kārya (recensional)

Characters & Entities

• Pitris
• Devas

FAQs

What is the importance of tarpaṇa (libations) to Pitṛs in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames tarpaṇa—performed after purification in sacred water—as a direct means of satisfying the ancestors (Pitṛs) and also honoring the deities, reinforcing it as a core dharmic duty.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana teachings on death rituals and ancestor rites?

By emphasizing purification (river-bath) followed by offerings to Pitṛs, it supports the Garuda Purana’s broader focus on post-death welfare being aided through proper rites like tarpaṇa and related śrāddha observances.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain regularity in dharmic practice, and when performing ancestor remembrance (tarpaṇa/śrāddha), prioritize purity and intention—offering gratitude to ancestors and reverence to the divine.