Shloka 2

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

Devanagari script

मुण्डपृष्ठं तु पूर्वस्मिन्पश्चिमे दक्षिणोत्तरे / सार्धक्रोशद्वयं मानं गयायां परिकीर्तितम्

Transliteration

muṇḍapṛṣṭhaṃ tu pūrvasminpaścime dakṣiṇottare / sārdhakrośadvayaṃ mānaṃ gayāyāṃ parikīrtitam

Translation

En Gayā, el recinto sagrado llamado Muṇḍapṛṣṭha se describe extendiéndose hacia el este y el oeste, y hacia el sur y el norte; su medida se dice que es de dos krośas y medio.

Word by Word

• मुण्डपृष्ठम्: Muṇḍapṛṣṭha (place-name)
• मुण्डपृष्ठम्: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुण्डपृष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक; मुण्ड + पृष्ठ)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; स्थाननाम (toponym)

• तु: indeed; but
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक-अव्यय (particle: but/indeed)

• पूर्वस्मिन्: in the east
• पूर्वस्मिन्: Adhikaraṇa (Location)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; दिशावाचक-विशेषण (locative)

• पश्चिमे: in the west
• पश्चिमे: Adhikaraṇa (Location)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पश्चिम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; दिशावाचक-विशेषण

• दक्षिणोत्तरे: in the south and north (directions)
• दक्षिणोत्तरे: Adhikaraṇa (Location)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दक्षिणोत्तर (प्रातिपदिक; दक्षिण + उत्तर)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; द्वन्द्व-समासः (south-and-north) used as directional span

• सार्धक्रोशद्वयम्: two krośas and a half (approx.)
• सार्धक्रोशद्वयम्: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सार्धक्रोशद्वय (प्रातिपदिक; सार्ध + क्रोश + द्वय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; परिमाणवाचक (measure)

• मानम्: measure; extent
• मानम्: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• गयायाम्: in Gayā
• गयायाम्: Adhikaraṇa (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative)

• परिकीर्तितम्: is proclaimed; is stated
• परिकीर्तितम्: Kriya (Predicate/State)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + कीर्त् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगार्थ (described/declared)

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in dialogue with Garuḍa)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dharma requires precision—knowing the proper kṣetra and its extent safeguards ritual efficacy.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-kāṇḍa as ordered discipline (niyama) that steadies the mind; right means (samyak-upāya) matters.

Application: When performing rites, verify traditional boundaries/authorized ghāṭas; treat ritual details (place, direction, measure) as part of integrity and intention.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: kṣetra-maryādā (bounded sacred precinct)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: Gayā-kṣetra boundary descriptions and sub-tīrtha listings (general internal linkage)

Characters & Entities

• Gayā
• Muṇḍapṛṣṭha

FAQs

What is the importance of Muṇḍapṛṣṭha in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

This verse highlights Muṇḍapṛṣṭha as a recognized sacred sub-region within Gayā, defined by traditional boundaries—implying it is a specifically acknowledged area for tīrtha-related rites such as śrāddha and piṇḍa-dāna.

How does this verse relate to death rites like piṇḍa-dāna in Gayā?

By giving a traditional measurement of a named sacred zone in Gayā, the text supports the idea that ancestral rites are connected to particular consecrated spaces, not merely to the city in general.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing Gayā-śrāddha, follow established tīrtha guidance (local paṇḍās and traditional manuals) to ensure rites are done within the recognized sacred boundaries described in scripture.