Shloka 5

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

Devanagari script

तत्र पिण्डप्रदानेन पितॄणा परमा गतिः / गयागमनमात्रेण पितॄणामनृणो भवेत्

Transliteration

tatra piṇḍapradānena pitṝṇā paramā gatiḥ / gayāgamanamātreṇa pitṝṇāmanṛṇo bhavet

Translation

Dort erlangen die Ahnen durch die Darbringung von piṇḍa den höchsten Gang. Schon durch das bloße Pilgern nach Gayā wird man frei von der Schuld, die den Ahnen geschuldet ist.

Word by Word

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikaraṇa (Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• पिण्डप्रदानेन: by offering piṇḍas
• पिण्डप्रदानेन: Karaṇa/Hetu (Instrument/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्डप्रदान (प्रातिपदिक; पिण्ड + प्रदान)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; करण/हेतु

• पितॄणाम्: of the ancestors
• पितॄणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध (genitive)

• परमा: supreme
• परमा: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying गतिः)

• गतिः: attainment; destiny
• गतिः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• गयागमनमात्रेण: by merely going to Gayā
• गयागमनमात्रेण: Karaṇa/Hetu (Instrument/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गयागमनमात्र (प्रातिपदिक; गया + गमन + मात्र)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; करण/हेतु (by mere going to Gayā)

• पितॄणाम्: of the ancestors
• पितॄणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• अनृणः: free from debt/obligation
• अनृणः: Karta (Subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनृण (प्रातिपदिक; अ- + ऋण)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (predicative)

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

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Gayā-yātrā period; also aligned with śrāddha occasions when performed as tīrtha-śrāddha.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Pitṛ-ṛṇa is a binding obligation; piṇḍa-dāna and Gayā-yātrā discharge it, granting ‘paramā gati’ to pitṛs and moral freedom to descendants.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma-fulfillment reduces inner burden (saṃskāra of guilt/neglect), enabling steadier pursuit of bhakti/jñāna; compassionate action as purification.

Application: If possible, perform Gayā-śrāddha with qualified guidance; otherwise, do śrāddha with sincere sankalpa, feed the needy, and dedicate merit to ancestors as a practical discharge of obligation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: tīrtha-kṣetra (śrāddha-pradhāna)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: pitṛ-ṛṇa, śrāddha-phala, and Gayā-māhātmya assertions (general internal linkage)

Characters & Entities

• Pitris
• Gaya

FAQs

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

This verse states that offering piṇḍas is a direct means for the Pitṛs (ancestors) to attain an exalted state (paramā gati), making piṇḍa-dāna a central śrāddha rite for ancestor welfare.

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

It emphasizes post-death support through ritual: the living can aid the ancestors’ onward progress by piṇḍa offerings, and pilgrimage to Gayā is presented as exceptionally efficacious for fulfilling one’s obligations to the Pitṛs.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform śrāddha and piṇḍa-dāna with sincerity (personally or through proper tradition), and if possible undertake Gayā śrāddha—understanding it as fulfilling pitṛ-ṛṇa and cultivating gratitude and responsibility toward one’s lineage.