Shloka 56

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

Devanagari script

यत्र माहेश्वरी धारा श्राद्धी तत्रानृणो भवेत् / पुण्यां विशालामासाद्य नदीं त्रैलोक्य विश्रुताम्

Transliteration

yatra māheśvarī dhārā śrāddhī tatrānṛṇo bhavet / puṇyāṃ viśālāmāsādya nadīṃ trailokya viśrutām

Translation

حيث يجري المجرى المقدّس المسمّى «ماهِيشفري» (Māheśvarī)، من أقام هناك شعيرة الشرادها (Śrāddha) صار بريئًا من دَينِه تجاه الأسلاف «الپِتْرِ» (Pitṛ). ثم إذا بلغ النهر الطاهر الواسع «فيشالا» (Viśālā) المشهور في العوالم الثلاثة…

Word by Word

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (स्थानवाचक-अव्यय/locative adverb: “where”)

• माहेश्वरी: of Maheśvara; Śaiva
• माहेश्वरी: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: माहेश्वरी (प्रातिपदिक; महेश्वर-सम्बन्धिन्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• धारा: stream; flow
• धारा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धारा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• श्राद्धी: the performer of śrāddha
• श्राद्धी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्धिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘श्राद्धं करोति’ इति (one who performs śrāddha)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (स्थानवाचक-अव्यय/locative adverb: “there”)

• अनृणः: free from debt/obligation
• अनृणः: Kartṛ-predicative (कर्तृसम्बन्धि विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनृण (प्रातिपदिक; न-ऋण)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• भवेत्: would become
• भवेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• पुण्याम्: holy; meritorious
• पुण्याम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• विशालाम्: vast; broad
• विशालाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विशाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• आसाद्य: having reached
• आसाद्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√सद् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund); “आसाद्य” = having reached/approached

• नदीम्: river
• नदीम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नदी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• त्रैलोक्य: the three worlds
• त्रैलोक्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि + लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषसमास (genitive tatpuruṣa: ‘of the three worlds’); प्रातिपदिकरूपेण

• विश्रुताम्: well-known; renowned
• विश्रुताम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-√श्रु (धातु) → विश्रुत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कृत (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Performed at the Māheśvarī stream/tīrtha; suitable on śrāddha tithi (amāvasyā/mahālaya/annual tithi) per family custom.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Tīrtha-śrāddha removes pitṛ-ṛṇa and strengthens the ancestral link through prescribed rites in sanctified places.

Vedantic Theme: Ṛṇa-traya and karmic purification through dharmic action; sacred space as a catalyst for puṇya without negating personal responsibility.

Application: Perform śrāddha and tarpaṇa at recognized tīrthas with proper sankalpa; cultivate gratitude to ancestors and fulfill obligations through regular remembrance and charity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: sacred river/stream (tīrtha)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa/Śrāddha sections praising Gayā and tīrthas (tīrtha-māhātmya passages nearby in 1.83)

Characters & Entities

• Maheśvara (Śiva)
• Śrāddha
• Viśālā (river)

FAQs

What is the importance of performing śrāddha at a sacred river in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that performing śrāddha at the Māheśvarī stream grants freedom from ancestral debt (pitṛ-ṛṇa), highlighting tīrtha-śrāddha as especially merit-giving.

How does this verse connect śrāddha with obligations to ancestors?

It explicitly links śrāddha done at this holy flow with becoming anṛṇa—released from the binding obligation owed to the pitṛs—implying completion of a key dharmic duty.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If possible, perform śrāddha with faith at a recognized tīrtha (or any pure water source with proper rites), focusing on sincerity, correct intention, and remembrance of ancestors.