Shloka 40

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

Devanagari script

अक्षयं फलमाप्नोति ब्रह्मलोकं नयेत्पितॄन् / जनार्दनस्य हस्ते तु पिण्डं दद्यात्स्वकं नरः

Transliteration

akṣayaṃ phalamāpnoti brahmalokaṃ nayetpitṝn / janārdanasya haste tu piṇḍaṃ dadyātsvakaṃ naraḥ

Translation

Er erlangt unvergängliche Frucht und führt die Pitṛs in Brahmaloka. Darum soll der Mensch seine eigene Piṇḍa in die Hand Janārdanas (Viṣṇus) darbringen.

Word by Word

• अक्षयम्: imperishable; inexhaustible
• अक्षयम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अक्षय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; accusative singular (neuter) qualifying फलम्

• फलम्: fruit; result
• फलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; accusative singular (neuter)

• आप्नोति: attains
• आप्नोति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आप् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; present, 3rd person singular; परस्मैपद

• ब्रह्मलोकम्: Brahma-world
• ब्रह्मलोकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्म + लोक (प्रातिपदिक); ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; accusative singular (masculine)

• नयेत्: should lead
• नयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नी (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (सम्भावना/विधान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; optative, 3rd person singular

• पितॄन्: ancestors
• पितॄन्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), बहुवचन; accusative plural (masculine)

• जनार्दनस्य: of Janārdana (Viṣṇu)
• जनार्दनस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनार्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन; genitive singular (masculine)

• हस्ते: in the hand
• हस्ते: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; locative singular (masculine)

• तु: but; indeed
• तु: Prayojaka (Discourse particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अवधारण-निपात; adversative/emphatic particle

• पिण्डम्: piṇḍa offering (rice-ball)
• पिण्डम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; accusative singular (masculine)

• दद्यात्: should give
• दद्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (सम्भावना/विधान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; optative, 3rd person singular

• स्वकम्: one's own
• स्वकम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; accusative singular (masculine) qualifying पिण्डम्

• नरः: a man; person
• नरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; nominative singular (masculine)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (Janārdana) speaking to Garuda (Vinātā-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Svarga

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Offering to Viṣṇu (Janārdana) sanctifies śrāddha and yields akṣaya-phala, elevating Pitṛs to Brahmaloka—devotion empowers ritual merit.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara-arpana (dedication to the Lord) transforms karma into purifying action; akṣaya-phala hints at divine grace surpassing ordinary merit.

Application: Perform ancestral offerings with explicit Viṣṇu-samarpaṇa (dedication), integrating remembrance with devotion and ethical living.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: repeated emphasis that offerings dedicated to Viṣṇu become akṣaya; Viṣṇu as ultimate refuge for pretas and pitṛs; Garuda Purana: Janārdana/Vāsudeva nāma-mahātmyas in devotional sections

Characters & Entities

• Janardana (Vishnu)
• Pitris
• Brahmaloka (Brahma)

FAQs

What is the importance of piṇḍa-dāna in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that offering piṇḍa as prescribed yields akṣaya (imperishable) merit and aids the Pitṛs’ auspicious progress, indicating piṇḍa-dāna as a key śrāddha act for ancestor welfare.

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

By linking piṇḍa-offering with “leading the Pitṛs to Brahmaloka,” the verse frames śrāddha as a supportive rite that improves ancestral gati (post-death destination) through Viṣṇu-centered offering.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform śrāddha/piṇḍa-dāna with devotion and ethical living (dharma), keeping the rite Viṣṇu-centered (Janārdana-smaraṇa) and dedicated to ancestor upliftment.