Shloka 17

Gayā-yātrā-vidhi: Multi-day Śrāddha Route, Pitṛ-devatās, and Akṣaya Merit at Gayā

Devanagari script

धर्मारण्यं मतङ्गस्य वाप्यां पिण्डादिकृद्भवेत् / धर्मारण्यं समासाद्य वाजपेयफलं लभेत्

Transliteration

dharmāraṇyaṃ mataṅgasya vāpyāṃ piṇḍādikṛdbhavet / dharmāraṇyaṃ samāsādya vājapeyaphalaṃ labhet

Translation

At Mataṅga’s sacred pond in Dharmāraṇya, one should offer piṇḍas and the other ancestral rites. Having reached Dharmāraṇya, one gains merit whose fruit equals that of the Vājapeya sacrifice.

Word by Word

• धर्म-अरण्यम्: Dharma-forest (Dharmāraṇya)
• धर्म-अरण्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + अरण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; स्थाननाम (place-name)

• मतङ्गस्य: of Mataṅga
• मतङ्गस्य: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मतङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• वाप्याम्: in/at the pond
• वाप्याम्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वापी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• पिण्ड-आदि-कृत्: performer of piṇḍa and other rites
• पिण्ड-आदि-कृत्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + कृत् (कृ धातु से कृत्-प्रत्ययान्त प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृवाचक (one who performs piṇḍa etc.)

• भवेत्: should become
• भवेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• धर्म-अरण्यम्: Dharmāraṇya
• धर्म-अरण्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म + अरण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• समासाद्य: having reached
• समासाद्य: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ√सद् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: ल्यबन्त/क्त्वार्थक अव्यय (Gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having reached/approached)

• वाजपेय-फलम्: the fruit (merit) of the Vājapeya (sacrifice)
• वाजपेय-फलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाजपेय (प्रातिपदिक) + फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; यागविशेषफल (fruit equal to Vājapeya sacrifice)

• लभेत्: should obtain
• लभेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √लभ् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

Speaker

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

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Second-day/next-stage tīrtha visit within the Gayā śrāddha itinerary (as implied by 1.84.16).

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Tīrtha and proper śrāddha offerings can yield extraordinary sacrificial merit; sacred place amplifies ritual efficacy.

Vedantic Theme: Karma’s fruit is conditioned by deśa (place), kāla (time), and śraddhā (faith); external rite supports inner purification.

Application: When performing Gayā-region śrāddha, include prescribed subsidiary tīrthas like Dharmāraṇya/Mataṅga-vāpī; accompany offerings with charity and restraint to align with ‘dharma-forest’ ethos.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: tirtha

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.84.14–16 (multi-day Gayā śrāddha sequence; movement to next rite)

Characters & Entities

• Mataṅga
• Dharmāraṇya
• Vājapeya

FAQs

What is the importance of performing piṇḍa-dāna at Dharmāraṇya in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

This verse states that offering piṇḍas at Mataṅga’s pond in Dharmāraṇya is a highly meritorious śrāddha-related act, specifically recommended for gaining great spiritual benefit.

How does this verse relate to Garuḍa Purāṇa death rituals and ancestor rites?

Piṇḍa offerings are central to śrāddha and ancestral support; the verse highlights a specific tīrtha (Dharmāraṇya) where such rites are especially efficacious, linking place-based ritual practice with elevated merit.

Practical application of this teaching today?

If one performs śrāddha or piṇḍa-dāna, do it with sincerity and proper procedure; when possible, perform it at a recognized tīrtha, and otherwise cultivate the same intention—honoring ancestors and living dharmically.