Shloka 41

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

Devanagari script

एष पिण्डे मया दत्तस्तव हस्ते जनार्दन ! / परलोकं गते मोक्षमक्षय्यमुपतिष्ठताम्

Transliteration

eṣa piṇḍe mayā dattastava haste janārdana ! / paralokaṃ gate mokṣamakṣayyamupatiṣṭhatām

Translation

O Janārdana, this piṇḍa has been offered by me into Your hand. For the one who has departed to the other world, may imperishable mokṣa be attained.

Word by Word

• eṣaḥ: this (one)
• eṣaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: eṣa (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (demonstrative pronoun)

• piṇḍe: in the piṇḍa (funeral offering)
• piṇḍe: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: piṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• mayā: by me
• mayā: Karana (Instrument/Agentive means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• dattaḥ: given
• dattaḥ: Karta (Predicate adjective to subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dā (दा) + datta (कृत-प्रत्यय; क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि-भावः

• tava: your
• tava: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: मध्यमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• haste: in (your) hand
• haste: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hasta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• janārdana: O Janārdana
• janārdana: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: janārdana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• paralokam: to the other world
• paralokam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paraloka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• gate: when (one) has gone
• gate: Adhikarana (Locative absolute/अधिकरण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (गम्) + gata (कृत-प्रत्यय; क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative) एकवचन; सति-सप्तमी (locative absolute)

• mokṣam: liberation
• mokṣam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mokṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• akṣayyam: imperishable
• akṣayyam: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: akṣayya (प्रातिपदिक; a- + kṣayya)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying mokṣam)

• upatiṣṭhatām: may (it/they) attend/come near
• upatiṣṭhatām: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa + √sthā (स्था)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/आज्ञार्थ), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद (आत्मनेपदी)

Speaker

A devotee/ritual performer addressing Lord Vishnu (Janardana) during piṇḍa-dāna/śrāddha context

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Moksha

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Divine reception (Janārdana-hasta) makes the offering efficacious for the departed, culminating in akṣaya-mokṣa.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara-anugraha as the decisive factor that perfects karma (rite) into liberation-oriented fruit.

Application: Perform piṇḍa-dāna with explicit Viṣṇu-smarana and sankalpa for the departed’s welfare, cultivating surrender rather than mere ritualism.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana, Pretakalpa/Śrāddha sections: piṇḍa-dāna leading to pitṛ-tṛpti and higher gati (general parallel within 1.83 context)

Characters & Entities

• Janardana (Vishnu)
• Paraloka

FAQs

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

This verse frames piṇḍa-dāna as a devotional offering placed into Lord Vishnu’s care, accompanied by a prayer that the departed attain akṣaya (imperishable) mokṣa—highlighting its role as a spiritually intentioned rite for the one in paraloka.

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

By explicitly referring to the departed as “gone to paraloka,” the verse situates the soul’s post-death journey in the other world and emphasizes that the living can support the departed through sanctioned rites and prayers directed to Vishnu for liberation.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform śrāddha/piṇḍa-dāna with sincerity and ethical living, offering the act to Vishnu and holding a clear intention for the departed’s peace and spiritual upliftment rather than treating the ritual as mere formality.