Shloka 18

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

Devanagari script

राजसूयाश्वमेधाभ्यां फलं स्याद्ब्रह्मतीर्थके / श्राद्धं पिण्डोदकं कार्यं मध्ये वै कूपयूपयोः

Transliteration

rājasūyāśvamedhābhyāṃ phalaṃ syādbrahmatīrthake / śrāddhaṃ piṇḍodakaṃ kāryaṃ madhye vai kūpayūpayoḥ

Translation

Am Brahmatīrtha erlangt man Verdienst, der dem der Opfer Rājasūya und Aśvamedha gleichkommt. Dort soll man das śrāddha vollziehen und piṇḍa sowie Wasser (udaka) darbringen, in dem Raum zwischen dem Brunnen (kūpa) und dem Opferpfahl (yūpa).

Word by Word

• राजसूयाश्वमेधाभ्याम्: by (the rites of) Rājasūya and Aśvamedha
• राजसूयाश्वमेधाभ्याम्: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजसूय (प्रातिपदिक) + अश्वमेध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), द्विवचन; द्वन्द्वसमास (राजसूय + अश्वमेध)

• फलम्: fruit, result
• फलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• स्यात्: would be, may be obtained
• स्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ब्रह्मतीर्थके: at Brahma-tīrtha
• ब्रह्मतीर्थके: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मतीर्थक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमास (ब्रह्मणः तीर्थम्)

• श्राद्धम्: śrāddha rite
• श्राद्धम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• पिण्डोदकम्: piṇḍa and water-offering
• पिण्डोदकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक) + उदक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; द्वन्द्वसमास (पिण्ड + उदक)

• कार्यम्: should be done
• कार्यम्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कार्य (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कृत्यप्रत्यय (यत्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विधेयविशेषण (to be done)

• मध्ये: in the middle, between
• मध्ये: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (स्थानवाचक/Locative adverb)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha/Discourse particle
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (निपात/अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• कूपयूपयोः: of/between the well and the sacrificial post
• कूपयूपयोः: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कूप (प्रातिपदिक) + यूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी/सप्तमी (6th/7th), द्विवचन; द्वन्द्वसमास (कूप + यूप)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinatā-putra, typical Garuda Purana dialogue frame)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: At Brahmatīrtha during the prescribed pilgrimage sequence; performed at the spot between kūpa and yūpa.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Tīrtha-śrāddha performed at the correct locus multiplies merit and supports pitṛ-satisfaction.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-kāṇḍa as purifier and as support for higher aims; sacred space (kṣetra) conditions the fruit of action.

Application: When performing śrāddha on pilgrimage, follow kṣetra-specific injunctions: offer piṇḍa and udaka at the prescribed spot (between kūpa and yūpa) rather than generically.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: tīrtha (pilgrimage ford) with kūpa (well) and yūpa (sacrificial post)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana, Pretakalpa/Dharmakanda sections on śrāddha, piṇḍa, udaka, and tīrtha-mahātmyas (Gayā/Phalgu context continues in 1.84.19–22)

Characters & Entities

• Brahmatīrtha
• Rājasūya
• Aśvamedha
• Śrāddha
• Piṇḍa
• Udaka
• Kūpa
• Yūpa

FAQs

What is the importance of Brahmatīrtha in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that performing rites at Brahmatīrtha yields extraordinary merit—comparable to the results of the Rājasūya and Aśvamedha sacrifices—making it a highly recommended tīrtha for ancestral rituals.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey and ancestral support?

By prescribing śrāddha with piṇḍa and udaka, the verse emphasizes the Garuda Purana theme that proper offerings strengthen the Pitṛs and support the departed through post-death transitions by sustaining the ancestral link and ritual duty.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If visiting a revered tīrtha, perform śrāddha (or a simplified tarpaṇa/udaka offering as guided by tradition) with sincerity and correct intention, prioritizing dharma, gratitude to ancestors, and disciplined ritual conduct.