Shloka 18

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

Devanagari script

मुण्डपृष्ठे महाचण्डीं दृष्ट्वा कामानवाप्नुयात् / फल्ग्वीशं फल्गुचण्डीं च गौरीं दृष्ट्वा च मङ्गलाम्

Transliteration

muṇḍapṛṣṭhe mahācaṇḍīṃ dṛṣṭvā kāmānavāpnuyāt / phalgvīśaṃ phalgucaṇḍīṃ ca gaurīṃ dṛṣṭvā ca maṅgalām

Translation

At Muṇḍapṛṣṭha, by beholding Mahācaṇḍī one attains one’s desired aims. By beholding Phalgvīśa, Phalgucaṇḍī, and also Gaurī, one attains auspiciousness (maṅgala).

Word by Word

• मुण्डपृष्ठे: on the bald head/back (Muṇḍa-pṛṣṭha)
• मुण्डपृष्ठे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुण्ड (प्रातिपदिक) + पृष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मुण्डस्य पृष्ठम्)

• महाचण्डीम्: Mahācaṇḍī
• महाचण्डीम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + चण्डी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (महती चण्डी)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriya (Gerundial action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive)

• कामान्: desires
• कामान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• अवाप्नुयात्: may obtain
• अवाप्नुयात्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव + आप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदी; उपसर्गः अव-

• फल्ग्वीशम्: Phalgvīśa
• फल्ग्वीशम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल्ग्वी (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (फल्ग्व्याः ईशः)

• फल्गुचण्डीम्: Phalgucaṇḍī
• फल्गुचण्डीम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल्गु (प्रातिपदिक) + चण्डी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (फल्गु-नाम्नी चण्डी / gentle Caṇḍī)

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

• गौरीम्: Gaurī
• गौरीम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गौरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriya (Gerundial action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive)

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

• मङ्गलाम्: Maṅgalā
• मङ्गलाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मङ्गला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (narrating to Garuḍa/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śakti-darśana as a means to attain iṣṭa-kāma and maṅgala; acknowledges legitimate worldly aims while placing them under divine auspicious order.

Vedantic Theme: Devī as śakti of īśvara—bestower of both bhoga (worldly fulfillment) and the conditions for higher pursuit (śubha-saṃskāra).

Application: Channel desires through dharmic intention: pray for aims that do not harm others; cultivate gratitude and restraint after attainment.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Geographic Context

Type: tirtha/śakti-pīṭha-like shrine cluster

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana tīrtha lists that include Devī and Śiva/Vishnu shrines together, assigning specific phalas; Adjacent verses in 1.83 continuing the Gayā-kṣetra circuit and its deity catalog

Characters & Entities

• Mahācaṇḍī
• Phalgvīśa
• Phalgucaṇḍī
• Gaurī

FAQs

What is the importance of tīrtha-darśana (seeing sacred deities/places) in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

This verse presents darśana at specific tīrthas as spiritually efficacious—beholding particular forms of the Goddess is said to yield desired aims and general auspiciousness.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuḍa Purāṇa context?

Indirectly, it supports the Purāṇic framework that merit (puṇya) is accumulated through sacred observances like tīrtha visits and deity-darśana—merit that later aids well-being in this life and favorable post-death outcomes described elsewhere in the text.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Approach pilgrimage or temple visits as disciplined practice: cultivate reverence, ethical conduct, and intention (saṅkalpa), treating darśana as a catalyst for inner purification and auspicious living rather than mere wish-fulfillment.