Shloka 63

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

Devanagari script

सावतीर्णा गयाक्षेत्रे पितॄणां तारणाय हि / श्राद्धदः पिण्डदस्तत्र गोप्रदानं करोतियः

Transliteration

sāvatīrṇā gayākṣetre pitṝṇāṃ tāraṇāya hi / śrāddhadaḥ piṇḍadastatra gopradānaṃ karotiyaḥ

Translation

Wahrlich, sie ist in das heilige Gebiet von Gayā herabgestiegen, um die Pitṛs zu erlösen. Wer dort Śrāddha vollzieht, Piṇḍas darbringt und eine Kuh spendet, wird zur Ursache ihrer Befreiung.

Word by Word

• सा: she (that river)
• सा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• अवतीर्णा: having descended
• अवतीर्णा: Kriya-Qualifying (क्रियाविशेषण/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव + तॄ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोगे (descends/has descended)

• गयाक्षेत्रे: in the Gaya region
• गयाक्षेत्रे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गयाक्षेत्र (प्रातिपदिक; गया + क्षेत्र)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (गयायाः क्षेत्रम्)

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

• तारणाय: for deliverance
• तारणाय: Sampradana (Recipient/Purpose/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तारण (प्रातिपदिक; तॄ + ल्युट्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th), एकवचन; प्रयोजन (dative of purpose)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha/Particle (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात; हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थ (indeed/for)

• श्राद्धदः: one who gives śrāddha
• श्राद्धदः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्धद (प्रातिपदिक; श्राद्ध + द)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (श्राद्धं ददाति इति)

• पिण्डदः: one who offers piṇḍa
• पिण्डदः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्डद (प्रातिपदिक; पिण्ड + द)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (पिण्डं ददाति इति)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb: 'there')

• गोप्रदानम्: gift of a cow
• गोप्रदानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो-प्रदान (प्रातिपदिक; गो + प्रदान)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्म (object)

• करोति: does/performs
• करोति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सम्बन्धे (relative pronoun: 'who')

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vainateya)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Performed at Gayā during prescribed śrāddha occasions as per local paddhati (often linked to pilgrimage schedule)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Pitṛ-tāraṇa is achieved through integrated rites: śrāddha + piṇḍadāna + go-pradāna at Gayā.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-yoga orientation: prescribed acts (nitya/naimittika) performed with śraddhā become purifying and other-benefiting; compassion expands dharma beyond self-interest.

Application: When at Gayā, complete the triad: perform śrāddha properly, offer piṇḍas, and give go-dāna (or its sanctioned substitute per tradition) with clear beneficiary saṅkalpa.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: kṣetra (sacred field/region)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana śrāddha-vidhi sections detailing piṇḍa, tarpaṇa, and dāna; Adjacent 1.83.61 on Gayākūpa piṇḍa efficacy and 1.83.64 on 21 generations

Characters & Entities

• Gayā
• Pitṛs

FAQs

What is the importance of Gayā śrāddha in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that performing śrāddha and piṇḍa-dāna at Gayā kṣetra is specifically meant for the ‘tāraṇa’ (deliverance) of the Pitṛs, making Gayā a highly efficacious pilgrimage-rite for ancestral upliftment.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul or the ancestors’ welfare?

Rather than describing the soul’s route directly here, the verse emphasizes supportive rites for those in the Pitṛ condition: offerings (piṇḍa) and śrāddha, strengthened by go-dāna, are presented as means that assist ancestors in ‘crossing over’ from constrained states toward a better destiny.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If one is able, perform śrāddha with sincerity, offer piṇḍas and tarpaṇa according to tradition (with qualified guidance), and practice dāna/charity—especially in remembrance of ancestors—as an act of dharma and gratitude.