Shloka 31

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

Devanagari script

ऐन्द्रे वा नरतीर्थे च वासवे वैष्णवे तथा / महानद्यां कृतश्राद्धो ब्रह्मलोकं नयेत्पितॄन्

Transliteration

aindre vā naratīrthe ca vāsave vaiṣṇave tathā / mahānadyāṃ kṛtaśrāddho brahmalokaṃ nayetpitṝn

Translation

Or, if one performs śrāddha at the Aindra tīrtha, at Nara-tīrtha, at the Vāsava tīrtha, at the Vaiṣṇava tīrtha, or upon the bank of a great river, that śrāddha leads the Pitṛs to Brahmaloka.

Word by Word

• ऐन्द्रे: at the Aindra (sacred place)
• ऐन्द्रे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऐन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (locative: 'in/at Aindra [tīrtha]')

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्ययम् (disjunctive particle: 'or')

• नरतीर्थे: at the Nara-tīrtha
• नरतीर्थे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर + तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (नरस्य तीर्थम्)

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

• वासवे: at the Vāsava (place of Indra)
• वासवे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वासव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (locative: 'in/at Vāsava [tīrtha]')

• वैष्णवे: at the Vaiṣṇava (place of Viṣṇu)
• वैष्णवे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वैष्णव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (locative: 'in/at Vaiṣṇava [tīrtha]')

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/तुल्यार्थक-अव्ययम् (adverb: 'likewise/also')

• महानद्याम्: in the great river
• महानद्याम्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + नदी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; कर्मधारयः (महती नदी)

• कृतश्राद्धः: one who has performed śrāddha
• कृतश्राद्धः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत (√कृ धातु, क्त-कृदन्त) + श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्तः; षष्ठी/कर्म-तत्पुरुषः (श्राद्धं कृतवान्)

• ब्रह्मलोकम्: to Brahma-loka
• ब्रह्मलोकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्म + लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (ब्रह्मणः लोकः)

• नयेत्: should lead
• नयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √नी (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd), एकवचनम्

• पितॄन्: the ancestors
• पितॄन्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Svarga

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual action (śrāddha) performed at potent tīrthas yields amplified post-mortem benefit for ancestors.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-kāṇḍa as purifier and as supportive ladder toward higher lokas; loka-attainment through dharmic rites (not yet direct jñāna-mokṣa).

Application: Choose tīrthas/riverbanks for śrāddha when possible; otherwise emulate tīrtha-dharma through purity, faith, and correct procedure.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: tīrtha/riverbank

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana, Pretakalpa/Śrāddha-mahātmyas: repeated emphasis that tīrtha-śrāddha uplifts Pitṛs to higher lokas; Garuda Purana: discussions of Pitṛ-loka/Brahma-loka outcomes from śrāddha and tarpaṇa

Characters & Entities

• Pitris
• Brahmaloka
• Indra (Aindra/Vasava)
• Vishnu (Vaisnava)

FAQs

What is the importance of performing śrāddha at tīrthas in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that śrāddha performed at specific sacred sites (Aindra, Nara-tīrtha, Vāsava, Vaiṣṇava) or at a great river has exceptional efficacy, benefiting the Pitṛs by elevating them to Brahmaloka.

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

In the Garuda Purana’s ritual framework, the post-death welfare of ancestors is supported by descendants through śrāddha; here, the text links properly performed rites at powerful tīrthas with an exalted destination for the Pitṛs—Brahmaloka.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing annual or occasion-based śrāddha, choose a revered tīrtha or a major riverbank when possible and perform the rite with correctness and devotion, dedicating the merit to one’s ancestors.