Shloka 16

Gayā-yātrā-vidhi: Multi-day Śrāddha Route, Pitṛ-devatās, and Akṣaya Merit at Gayā

Devanagari script

आत्मानं तारयेत्सद्यो दश पूर्वान्दशापरान् / प्रथमेह्निविधिः प्रोक्तो द्वितीयदिवसे व्रजेत्

Transliteration

ātmānaṃ tārayetsadyo daśa pūrvāndaśāparān / prathamehnividhiḥ prokto dvitīyadivase vrajet

Translation

ينبغي له أن يخلّص نفسه في الحال، وأن ينفع كذلك عشرةً من الأسلاف وعشرةً من الذرية. وقد بُيّنت شعائر اليوم الأول؛ وفي اليوم الثاني يمضي إلى الشعيرة التالية المقرّرة.

Word by Word

• आत्मानम्: oneself
• आत्मानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तारयेत्: should deliver/save
• तारयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √तॄ (धातु, causative: तारय)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; णिच्-प्रत्ययान्त (causative)

• सद्यः: immediately
• सद्यः: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सद्यः (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (adverb of time)

• दश: ten
• दश: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दशन् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक (numeral), अव्ययवत् प्रयोग (indeclinable-like numeral)

• पूर्वान्: the preceding (ancestors)
• पूर्वान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; पूर्वजवाचक (the earlier ones/ancestors)

• दश: ten
• दश: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दशन् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक (numeral), अव्ययवत् प्रयोग

• अपरान्: the following (descendants)
• अपरान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; परवर्तीवाचक (the later ones/descendants)

• प्रथमे: on the first (day)
• प्रथमे: Adhikarana (Time-location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रथम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; (with अह्नि)

• अह्नि: on the day
• अह्नि: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• विधिः: procedure/rite
• विधिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• प्रोक्तः: has been stated
• प्रोक्तः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र√वच् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (predicative)

• द्वितीय-दिवसे: on the second day
• द्वितीय-दिवसे: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वितीय (प्रातिपदिक) + दिवस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• व्रजेत्: should go
• व्रजेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √व्रज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Explicitly references first-day vidhi and transition to second-day rites in a multi-day śrāddha/pilgrimage procedure.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual action, when properly performed, yields immediate and far-reaching results affecting self, ancestors, and descendants; dharma is sequential and methodical.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala-niyama (lawful fruition of action) within sacred rites; saṃskāra and lineage as carriers of merit.

Application: Follow the prescribed day-by-day vidhi without omission; hold sankalpa for both ancestors and descendants, and complete the sequence as instructed.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.84.14–15 (Gayā/Phalgu/Gadādhara); Garuda Purana 1.84.17 (second-day movement to Dharmāraṇya/Mataṅga-vāpī)

Characters & Entities

• Pitris (ancestors)
• Descendants (future lineage)

FAQs

What is the importance of benefiting ten ancestors and ten descendants in the Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes that properly performed post-death rites are believed to confer immediate spiritual benefit not only to the departed but also across the lineage—supporting ancestral well-being and continuity of dharmic merit.

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

It links the soul’s welfare with timely, sequential rites—stating that the first day’s prescribed procedure is essential, and the next day continues the ritual progression meant to support the departed’s onward journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Follow a disciplined, step-by-step approach to ancestral duties (śrāddha/antyeṣṭi as per one’s tradition), and cultivate responsibility toward both forebears and future generations through ethical living and remembrance.