Shloka 37

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

Devanagari script

सर्वे मुक्ता विशालो ऽपि सपुत्रो ऽभुच्च पिण्डदः / विशालायां विशालो ऽभूद्राजपुत्रोब्रवीद्द्विजान्

Transliteration

sarve muktā viśālo 'pi saputro 'bhucca piṇḍadaḥ / viśālāyāṃ viśālo 'bhūdrājaputrobravīddvijān

Translation

Alle wurden befreit; und auch Viśāla—zusammen mit seinem Sohn—wurde zu einem, der den Piṇḍa ordnungsgemäß darbringt. In der Stadt Viśālā wandte sich jener Prinz Viśāla daraufhin an die Zweimalgeborenen (Brāhmaṇas).

Word by Word

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), बहुवचन

• मुक्ताः: freed/liberated
• मुक्ताः: Vidhaya (Predicate qualifier/विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुच् (धातु) + क्त
• Form: क्त-कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• विशालः: Viśāla
• विशालः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विशाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन; नाम (proper name)

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), समुच्चय/अपि-भाव

• सपुत्रः: together with (his) son
• सपुत्रः: Vidhaya (Predicate qualifier/विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समास: पुत्रेण सह (नञ्-रहित सहार्थक-तत्पुरुष)

• अभूत्: became/was
• अभूत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• पिण्डदः: giver of piṇḍa (one who offers funeral oblations)
• पिण्डदः: Vidhaya (Predicate noun/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड + द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समास: पिण्डं ददाति इति (उपपद-तत्पुरुष)

• विशालायाम्: in Viśālā
• विशालायाम्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विशाला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; स्थाननाम

• विशालः: Viśāla
• विशालः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विशाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

• अभूत्: became/was
• अभूत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• राजपुत्रः: the king’s son/prince
• राजपुत्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् + पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन; समास: राज्ञः पुत्रः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• अब्रवीत्: said
• अब्रवीत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• द्विजान्: to the Brahmins (twice-born)
• द्विजान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), बहुवचन

Speaker

Narrator (within the Vishnu–Garuda dialogue frame)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Svarga

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Post-completion continuation of śrāddha culture; implied ongoing observance after the decisive Gayā rite

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Proper piṇḍa-dāna leads to liberation (mukti) of the concerned departed and establishes the performer as a righteous upholder of pitṛ-dharma; dharma is confirmed through dialogue with brāhmaṇas.

Vedantic Theme: Karma purified into dharmic steadiness; social order (brāhmaṇa guidance) supports right action and its stabilizing fruits.

Application: After completing key rites, continue regular śrāddha/ancestral remembrance; consult learned guides for ongoing observances and community-aligned dharma.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: city (nagara)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana accounts where successful śrāddha results in preta-mukti and family welfare; Passages on the merit of being ‘piṇḍada’ (one who offers piṇḍa properly)

Characters & Entities

• Viśāla
• Viśālā
• Dvijas (Brāhmaṇas)
• Piṇḍa (piṇḍa-dāna/śrāddha)

FAQs

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

This verse highlights piṇḍa-dāna as a dharmic act associated with spiritual welfare and liberation, presenting Viśāla as one who becomes a proper performer of the rite.

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

Indirectly: by linking liberation with correct ritual duty (piṇḍa-dāna), it reflects the Garuda Purana theme that post-death welfare is supported by prescribed rites performed by the living.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Honor ancestors through sincere śrāddha/commemorative rites according to one’s tradition, and seek guidance from qualified priests/teachers (dvijas) to keep practice aligned with dharma.