Shloka 36

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

Devanagari script

प्रमाणं देवताः सन्तु लोकपालाश्च साक्षिणः / मयागत्य मतङ्गे ऽस्मिन्पितॄणां निष्कृतिः कृता

Transliteration

pramāṇaṃ devatāḥ santu lokapālāśca sākṣiṇaḥ / mayāgatya mataṅge 'sminpitṝṇāṃ niṣkṛtiḥ kṛtā

Translation

Let the gods be the authority, and let the Lokapālas, guardians of the worlds, be witnesses: having come to this sacred place of Matanga, I have performed expiation and release for the Pitṛs (ancestors).

Word by Word

• प्रमाणम्: proof; authority; witness
• प्रमाणम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रमाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; nominative/accusative singular (neuter)

• देवताः: deities
• देवताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; nominative plural (feminine)

• सन्तु: let (them) be
• सन्तु: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (आज्ञार्थ), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; imperative, 3rd person plural

• लोकपालाः: guardians of the worlds
• लोकपालाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक + पाल (प्रातिपदिक); लोक (प्रातिपदिक) + पाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; nominative plural (masculine)

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

• साक्षिणः: witnesses
• साक्षिणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साक्षिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; nominative plural (masculine)

• मया: by me
• मया: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; instrumental singular (I/by me)

• आगत्य: having come
• आगत्य: Kriya-viseshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ + गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund), पूर्वकाल; absolutive/gerund ‘having come’

• मतङ्गे: at/in Mataṅga (place)
• मतङ्गे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मतङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; locative singular (masculine)

• अस्मिन्: in this
• अस्मिन्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; locative singular (in this)

• पितॄणाम्: of the ancestors (pitṛs)
• पितॄणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), बहुवचन; genitive plural (masculine)

• निष्कृतिः: expiation; deliverance
• निष्कृतिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निष्कृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; nominative singular (feminine)

• कृता: has been done; accomplished
• कृता: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; PPP ‘done/made’ agreeing with निष्कृतिः

Speaker

Narrator/ritual performer (contextual voice within the Garuda Purana narrative; not explicitly marked in the given line)

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Niṣkṛti (expiation) and ritual action can remediate ancestral affliction when performed at a sacred place with truthful resolve.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-kāṇḍa as a purifying auxiliary (sādhana) that supports dharmic order and prepares the mind for higher pursuit.

Application: Undertake ancestral rites with sankalpa, integrity, and proper witnesses (inner conscience and dharma), preferably at recognized tīrthas.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: tirtha/kshetra

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: sections on śrāddha, tīrtha-śrāddha, and pitṛ-mokṣa claims in adjacent adhyāyas of 1.83; Garuda Purana: repeated motif of devas/lokapālas as sākṣin in vows and donations

Characters & Entities

• Devatāḥ
• Lokapālāḥ
• Pitṛs

FAQs

What is the importance of niṣkṛti (expiation) for Pitṛs in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames niṣkṛti as a corrective rite done on behalf of ancestors, affirmed before divine authorities (devatās) and cosmic witnesses (lokapālas), indicating that ancestral upliftment is treated as a dharmic, verifiable act.

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

By emphasizing Pitṛs and their “release” through niṣkṛti, the verse implies that post-death welfare can be supported by the living through sanctioned rites, witnessed by higher cosmic powers.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform śrāddha/ancestor-offerings and remedial rites with sincerity and proper procedure, treating them as dharmic responsibilities undertaken transparently—“as if before witnesses”—rather than as mere formality.