Shloka 71

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

Devanagari script

रामतीर्थे नरः स्नात्वा गोशतस्याप्नुयात्फलम् / मतङ्गवाप्यां स्नात्वा च गोसहस्रफलं लभेत्

Transliteration

rāmatīrthe naraḥ snātvā gośatasyāpnuyātphalam / mataṅgavāpyāṃ snātvā ca gosahasraphalaṃ labhet

Translation

By bathing at Rāma-tīrtha, one gains merit equal to the gift of a hundred cows; and by bathing in Mataṅga’s sacred pond, one attains merit equal to the gift of a thousand cows.

Word by Word

• रामतीर्थे: at Rāma’s sacred ford (Rāmatīrtha)
• रामतीर्थे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम-तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक; राम + तीर्थ)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (रामस्य तीर्थम्)

• नरः: a man
• नरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• स्नात्वा: having bathed
• स्नात्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्ना (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive), ‘स्ना’ धातोः

• गोशतस्य: of a hundred cows
• गोशतस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो-शत (प्रातिपदिक; गो + शत)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (गवां शतम्)

• आप्नुयात्: would obtain
• आप्नुयात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• फलम्: the fruit (merit)
• फलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• मतङ्गवाप्यां: in the pond of Mataṅga
• मतङ्गवाप्यां: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मतङ्ग-वापी (प्रातिपदिक; मतङ्ग + वापी)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मतङ्गस्य वापी)

• स्नात्वा: having bathed
• स्नात्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्ना (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• गोसहस्रफलम्: the fruit of (donating) a thousand cows
• गोसहस्रफलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो-सहस्र-फल (प्रातिपदिक; गो + सहस्र + फल)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (गवां सहस्रस्य फलम्)

• लभेत्: would obtain
• लभेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in discourse to Garuḍa/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Tīrtha-snāna as a karma that yields dāna-tulya puṇya (merit equal to gifting cows).

Vedantic Theme: Karma-kāṇḍa efficacy within saṃsāra; purification as support for sattva and higher pursuits.

Application: Undertake tīrtha-snāna with sankalpa, restraint, and gratitude; pair with charity/service to embody the stated merit rather than treating it as mere transaction.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: tīrtha and vāpī (pond)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.83 (tīrtha-mahātmyā sequence on snāna-phala and yajña/dāna equivalences)

Characters & Entities

• Rāma-tīrtha
• Mataṅga-vāpyā

FAQs

What is the importance of tīrtha-snānaphala in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

This verse presents tīrtha-bathing as a dharmic act that yields measurable puṇya, expressed through the traditional benchmark of go-dāna (cow-gift) merit.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it emphasizes merit-accumulation (puṇya) through sanctioned observances; such puṇya is repeatedly taught in the Purāṇic framework as supportive of auspicious post-death outcomes and spiritual progress.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat pilgrimage and sacred-water practices as disciplined dharma—performed with purity and intention—and translate the spirit of ‘go-dāna merit’ into tangible charity and ethical care for living beings.