Shloka 53

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

Devanagari script

गयायां मुणाडपृष्ठं च अरविन्दं च पर्वतम् / तृतीयं क्रैञ्चपादं च दृष्ट्वा पापैः प्रमुच्यते

Transliteration

gayāyāṃ muṇāḍapṛṣṭhaṃ ca aravindaṃ ca parvatam / tṛtīyaṃ kraiñcapādaṃ ca dṛṣṭvā pāpaiḥ pramucyate

Translation

In Gayā, by beholding Muṇāḍapṛṣṭha and Mount Aravinda, and thirdly Krañcapāda, one is released from sins.

Word by Word

• gayāyām: in Gayā
• gayāyām: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gayā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Saptamī, Ekavacana

• muṇāḍapṛṣṭham: Muṇāḍapṛṣṭha (a sacred spot)
• muṇāḍapṛṣṭham: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muṇāḍa + pṛṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; proper place-name/object

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

• aravindam: Aravinda (lotus; here a sacred spot)
• aravindam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aravinda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; proper name/object

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

• parvatam: mountain
• parvatam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parvata (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• tṛtīyam: third
• tṛtīyam: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tṛtīya (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of 'kraiñcapādam'

• kraiñcapādam: Kraiñcapāda (a sacred spot)
• kraiñcapādam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kraiñca + pāda (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; proper place-name/object

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

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Kriyā (Prior action/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (धातु) + ktvā (क्त्वा)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), avyaya; pūrvakāla-kriyā

• pāpaiḥ: from/by sins
• pāpaiḥ: Karaṇa/Hetu (Instrument/Cause/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāpa (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga, Tṛtīyā-vibhakti (3rd/तृतीया), Bahuvacana; hetu/means in passive

• pramucyate: is freed
• pramucyate: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √muc (धातु) with pra- upasarga
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (Present), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; ātmanepada; karmaṇi-prayoga (passive)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Darśana of sacred sites functions as a purificatory act (pāpa-nāśa) when approached with faith and right conduct.

Vedantic Theme: External tīrtha supports internal tīrtha (mind’s purification); sacred perception as a doorway to transformation.

Application: During Gayā yātrā, intentionally visit and contemplate these named sites; pair darśana with japa, dāna, and resolve to abandon harmful habits.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: tirtha landmarks (hills/peaks/sacred spots)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: Gayā-kṣetra descriptions listing specific tīrthas and their phala; Garuda Purana: doctrine of pāpa-kṣaya through tīrtha-darśana

Characters & Entities

• Gayā
• Muṇāḍapṛṣṭha
• Aravinda (parvata)
• Krañcapāda

FAQs

What is the importance of Gayā in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents Gayā as a powerful tīrtha where even mere darśana (beholding) of specific sacred locations is said to free one from sins, highlighting Gayā’s role as a place of purification.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By emphasizing pāpa-kṣaya (diminution of sin) through tīrtha-darśana, the verse implies that reducing karmic burden supports a smoother spiritual trajectory—especially relevant to Garuda Purana themes of post-death consequences tied to karma.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Undertake pilgrimage with humility and ethical restraint, treating darśana as a prompt for inner reform—reducing harmful actions (pāpa) and strengthening dharmic living alongside any ritual observance.