Shloka 39

Pretaśilā at Gayā: Muṇḍapṛṣṭha, Gadādhara’s Manifestation, and the Fruits of Śrāddha & Deity-Worship

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मलोकमवाप्नोति संपूज्यादिगदाधरम् / पृथिव्यां सर्वतीर्थेभ्यो यथा श्रेष्ठा गया पुरी

Transliteration

brahmalokamavāpnoti saṃpūjyādigadādharam / pṛthivyāṃ sarvatīrthebhyo yathā śreṣṭhā gayā purī

Translation

Having duly worshipped Ādi-Gadādhara—the primordial mace-bearer (Viṣṇu)—one attains Brahmaloka. Just as on earth the city of Gayā is regarded as the foremost among all sacred pilgrimage sites.

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मलोकम्: Brahma-loka
• ब्रह्मलोकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मलोक (प्रातिपदिक; ब्रह्मन् + लोक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (ब्रह्मणः लोकः)

• अवाप्नोति: attains
• अवाप्नोति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव + आप् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सम्पूज्य: having duly worshipped
• सम्पूज्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + पूज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive)

• आदि: etc.
• आदि: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आदि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सूचक (etc.)

• गदाधरम्: Gadādhara (Viṣṇu)
• गदाधरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गदाधर (प्रातिपदिक; गदा + धर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• पृथिव्याम्: on earth
• पृथिव्याम्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथिवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• सर्वतीर्थेभ्यः: than all pilgrimage places
• सर्वतीर्थेभ्यः: Apadana (Ablative/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्वतीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक; सर्व + तीर्थ)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (सर्वाणि तीर्थानि)

• यथा: just as
• यथा: Upamana-marker (उपमान-सूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमान/तुलना-सूचक (as, just as)

• श्रेष्ठा: the best
• श्रेष्ठा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• गया: Gayā
• गया: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• पुरी: city
• पुरी: Apposition (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; गया-इति नामधेयस्य समानााधिकरणम्

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Svarga

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Worship of Ādi-Gadādhara yields high post-mortem attainment (Brahmaloka); tīrtha-viśeṣa amplifies merit.

Vedantic Theme: Gradation of lokas as karma-phala; sacred geography as a field where dharma and bhakti intensify saṃskāra and merit.

Application: Undertake tīrtha-yātrā to Gayā with disciplined conduct; combine worship with charity and śrāddha; treat pilgrimage as inner purification, not tourism.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: tirtha-city

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.86.37-38 (worship and śrāddha/dāna); Garuda Purana 1.86.40 (Gadādhara as śilā-rūpa; sarvaṃ Gadādharaḥ)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Brahmaloka
• Gayā

FAQs

What is the importance of Gayā in the Garuda Purana?

This verse ranks Gayā as the foremost tīrtha on earth, highlighting it as exceptionally meritorious among pilgrimage places.

How does this verse describe the spiritual result of worshipping Vishnu?

It states that proper worship of Viṣṇu (the primordial mace-bearer) leads to attaining Brahmaloka, indicating a high posthumous spiritual destination.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Prioritize sincere devotion and correct worship of Viṣṇu, and when undertaking pilgrimage or ancestral observances, recognize Gayā as a traditionally eminent sacred site.