Shloka 54

Devanagari script

मकरे वर्तमाने च ग्रहणे चन्द्रसूर्ययोः / दुर्लभं त्रिषु लोकेषु गयायां पिण्डपातनम्

Transliteration

makare vartamāne ca grahaṇe candrasūryayoḥ / durlabhaṃ triṣu lokeṣu gayāyāṃ piṇḍapātanam

Translation

When the Sun is in Makara (Capricorn), and during eclipses of the Moon and the Sun, the offering of piṇḍas at Gayā is exceedingly rare—indeed difficult to obtain in all the three worlds.

Word by Word

• makare: when (the sun is) in Makara
• makare: Adhikaraṇa (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: makara (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī, Ekavacana; time-locative (Makara-saṅkrānti / Capricorn)

• vartamāne: while occurring/prevailing
• vartamāne: Adhikaraṇa (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vṛt (धातु) + śatṛ (शतृ)
• Form: Vartamāna-kṛdanta (present participle/शतृ), Puṃliṅga, Saptamī, Ekavacana; agrees with 'makare' (locative absolute sense)

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

• grahaṇe: during an eclipse
• grahaṇe: Adhikaraṇa (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: grahaṇa (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga, Saptamī, Ekavacana; time-locative

• candrasūryayoḥ: of the moon and the sun
• candrasūryayoḥ: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: candra + sūrya (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī-vibhakti (6th/षष्ठी), Dvivacana; genitive dependent on 'grahaṇe'

• durlabham: rare
• durlabham: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Predicate qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: durlabha (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; predicate adjective of 'piṇḍapātanam'

• triṣu: in three
• triṣu: Adhikaraṇa (Domain/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tri (संख्या-प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī, Bahuvacana; viśeṣaṇa of 'lokeṣu'

• lokeṣu: worlds
• lokeṣu: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī, Bahuvacana

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

• piṇḍapātanam: offering/placing of piṇḍa (funeral rice-balls)
• piṇḍapātanam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: piṇḍa + pātana (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in dialogue with Garuḍa/Vinatā-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Makara (Sun in Capricorn/Makara-saṅkrānti season) and during Candra/Sūrya grahaṇa (lunar/solar eclipses)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Kāla (time) and kṣetra (place) together amplify śrāddha/piṇḍa merit; rare opportunities should be seized with preparedness.

Vedantic Theme: Time as a manifestation of cosmic order (ṛta/dharma); disciplined action aligned with sacred time supports purification and ancestral welfare.

Application: If performing Gayā śrāddha, prioritize Makara period or eclipse windows (with proper ritual guidance and purity rules); prepare with fasting, charity, and focused sankalpa.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: tirtha (piṇḍa-dāna center)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: Gayā-śrāddha and piṇḍa-dāna glorification; Garuda Purana: kāla-mahattva—special fruits during saṅkrānti, amāvāsyā, grahaṇa

Characters & Entities

• Gayā
• Makara (Capricorn)
• Chandra (Moon)
• Surya (Sun)

FAQs

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

This verse highlights Gayā as a uniquely potent place for ancestor offerings, where performing piṇḍa-dāna is described as a rare, highly auspicious opportunity—even across the three worlds.

Why does the verse mention Makara and eclipses (grahaṇa)?

It points to specific sacred timings—Sun in Makara and lunar/solar eclipses—when the spiritual efficacy and auspiciousness of piṇḍa offerings at Gayā are emphasized as exceptional.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If observing śrāddha traditions, plan ancestor rites with qualified guidance for auspicious times (like Makara periods or eclipse-related windows) and prioritize sincerity, purity, and proper procedure in piṇḍa-dāna.