Shloka 50

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

Devanagari script

दुर्लभं किं पुनर्नित्यमस्मिन्नेव व्यवस्थितिः / महानद्यामुपस्पृश्य तर्पयेत्पितृदेवताः

Transliteration

durlabhaṃ kiṃ punarnityamasminneva vyavasthitiḥ / mahānadyāmupaspṛśya tarpayetpitṛdevatāḥ

Translation

If even this is hard to obtain, how much more difficult is constant, continual abiding in it! Therefore, having bathed in a great river, one should offer tarpaṇa—libations of water—to the Pitṛs and to the deities.

Word by Word

• दुर्लभम्: difficult to obtain
• दुर्लभम्: None
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्लभ (प्रातिपदिक; दुर् + लभ)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (predicative)

• किम्: what?
• किम्: None
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक

• पुनः: again; moreover
• पुनः: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरुक्ति/अधिक्य-बोधक (again/further)

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय-प्रयोग (adverbial accusative); कालवाचक (always)

• अस्मिन्: in this (place)
• अस्मिन्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• एव: indeed; only
• एव: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphasis/only)

• व्यवस्थितिः: residence/remaining
• व्यवस्थितिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यवस्थिति (प्रातिपदिक; वि + अव + स्था → व्यवस्था/व्यवस्थिति)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• महानद्याम्: in the great river
• महानद्याम्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महानदी (प्रातिपदिक; महा + नदी)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारय (महती नदी)

• उपस्पृश्य: having touched/bathed in
• उपस्पृश्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालिक क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप + स्पृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); पूर्वकालिक-क्रिया (having touched/bathed)

• तर्पयेत्: should satisfy/offer libations to
• तर्पयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तृप्/तर्प् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• पितृदेवताः: the ancestral deities
• पितृदेवताः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृदेवता (प्रातिपदिक; पितृ + देवता)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), बहुवचन; समासः तत्पुरुष (पितॄणां देवताः = ancestral deities)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: After bathing (upaspṛśya) in a great river; suitable as regular/occasional practice when stricter observance is difficult

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: When higher or rarer observances are difficult, perform feasible dharmic essentials—snāna and tarpaṇa—to uphold pitṛ and deva obligations.

Vedantic Theme: Adhikāra-bheda (practice according to capacity) and anukalpa (permitted alternative) within dharma; sincerity and regularity over unattainable ideals.

Application: If unable to undertake extended pilgrimage/strict observances, regularly bathe (or ritually purify) and offer tarpaṇa to pitṛs and devas with mantra and water, coupled with charity/feeding.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: river (nadī) used for snāna and tarpaṇa

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.83.47–49 (specialized tīrtha rules contrasted with accessible tarpaṇa); Garuda Purana śrāddha/tarpaṇa sections emphasizing regular pitṛ-kārya (recensional)

Characters & Entities

• Pitris
• Devas

FAQs

What is the importance of tarpaṇa (libations) to Pitṛs in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames tarpaṇa—performed after purification in sacred water—as a direct means of satisfying the ancestors (Pitṛs) and also honoring the deities, reinforcing it as a core dharmic duty.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana teachings on death rituals and ancestor rites?

By emphasizing purification (river-bath) followed by offerings to Pitṛs, it supports the Garuda Purana’s broader focus on post-death welfare being aided through proper rites like tarpaṇa and related śrāddha observances.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain regularity in dharmic practice, and when performing ancestor remembrance (tarpaṇa/śrāddha), prioritize purity and intention—offering gratitude to ancestors and reverence to the divine.