Shloka 51

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

Devanagari script

अक्षयान्प्राप्नुयाल्लोकान्कुलं चापि समुद्धरेत् / सावित्रे पठ्यते सन्ध्या कृता स्याद्द्वादशाब्दिकी

Transliteration

akṣayānprāpnuyāllokānkulaṃ cāpi samuddharet / sāvitre paṭhyate sandhyā kṛtā syāddvādaśābdikī

Translation

One attains imperishable worlds and also uplifts one’s lineage. When Sandhyā worship is performed with the recitation of the Sāvitrī (Gāyatrī), it is said to grant the merit of Sandhyā practiced for twelve years.

Word by Word

• akṣayān: imperishable
• akṣayān: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: akṣaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā-vibhakti (2nd/द्वितीया), Bahuvacana; viśeṣaṇa of 'lokān'

• prāpnuyāt: may attain
• prāpnuyāt: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √āp (धातु) with pra- upasarga
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (Optative/विधिलिङ्), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd/प्रथम), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• lokān: worlds
• lokān: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā-vibhakti (2nd/द्वितीया), Bahuvacana

• kulam: family/lineage
• kulam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga, Dvitīyā-vibhakti (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-nipāta (conjunction/समुच्चय)

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Avadhāraṇa/Anvaya-nipāta (particle/निपात)

• samuddharet: may uplift/save
• samuddharet: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dhṛ (धातु) with sam-ud- upasarga
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (Optative/विधिलिङ्), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• sāvitre: in/with the Sāvitra (Gāyatrī)
• sāvitre: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sāvitra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga, Saptamī-vibhakti (7th/सप्तमी), Ekavacana; adhikaraṇa (locative)

• paṭhyate: is recited
• paṭhyate: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √paṭh (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (Present/लट्), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; ātmanepada; karmaṇi-prayoga (passive)

• sandhyā: the Sandhyā (twilight rite)
• sandhyā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sandhyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā-vibhakti (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana

• kṛtā: done/performed
• kṛtā: Kriyā (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Kta-pratyaya (past passive participle/कृत), Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; predicate with 'syāt'

• syāt: would be
• syāt: Kriyā (Copula/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (Optative/विधिलिङ्), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• dvādaśābdikī: of twelve years’ (duration)
• dvādaśābdikī: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dvādaśa + ābdikī (प्रातिपदिक); dvādaśa (संख्या) + ābdika (वर्षसम्बन्धिन्)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā-vibhakti (1st), Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of 'sandhyā'

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in dialogue with Garuḍa)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Nitya-karma (Sandhyā with Sāvitrī) produces vast puṇya, benefiting both self and lineage.

Vedantic Theme: Chitta-śuddhi through disciplined karma as a support for higher knowledge and devotion.

Application: Maintain regular Sandhyā with attentive Gāyatrī-japa; treat consistency as the multiplier of spiritual merit and family well-being.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Preta-khaṇḍa/ācāra sections): praise of Sandhyā, Gāyatrī-japa, and nitya-karma as purifier; Garuda Purana: statements on kula-uddhāra through dharmic acts

Characters & Entities

• Sāvitrī (Gāyatrī)
• Sandhyā

FAQs

What is the importance of Sandhyā-vandana with Sāvitrī (Gāyatrī) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that performing Sandhyā with Sāvitrī recitation brings imperishable spiritual attainments and benefits one’s family line, emphasizing it as a highly meritorious daily discipline.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By linking disciplined daily worship to “akṣaya lokas,” the verse frames ritual purity and mantra-recitation as causes for elevated posthumous destinations and lasting spiritual merit.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain a consistent daily Sandhyā practice (as per one’s tradition) and include attentive Gāyatrī/Sāvitrī japa—treating it as a long-term investment in character, clarity, and dhārmic living.