Shloka 19

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

Devanagari script

कूपोदकेन तत्कार्यं पितॄणां दत्तमक्षयम् / तृतीये ऽबह्नि ब्रह्मसदो गत्वा स्नात्वाथ तर्पणम्

Transliteration

kūpodakena tatkāryaṃ pitṝṇāṃ dattamakṣayam / tṛtīye 'bahni brahmasado gatvā snātvātha tarpaṇam

Translation

Ese rito debe realizarse con agua del pozo; así, lo ofrecido a los Pitṛs se vuelve imperecedero. Al tercer día, yendo a la asamblea de Brahmā (Brahma-sadā), uno debe bañarse y luego hacer tarpaṇa.

Word by Word

• कूपोदकेन: with the well-water
• कूपोदकेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कूप (प्रातिपदिक) + उदक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमास (कूपस्य उदकम्)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (demonstrative)

• कार्यम्: is to be done
• कार्यम्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कार्य (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कृत्यप्रत्यय (यत्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विधेय (to be done)

• पितॄणाम्: of/for the ancestors
• पितॄणाम्: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• दत्तम्: given, offered
• दत्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दा (धातु) → दत्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगार्थ (given)

• अक्षयम्: imperishable, inexhaustible
• अक्षयम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अक्षय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तृतीये: on the third
• तृतीये: Adhikarana (Time/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तृतीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; क्रमवाचक (ordinal)

• अह्नि: day
• अह्नि: Adhikarana (Time/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• ब्रह्मसदः: of the Brahma-sadas (Brahmā’s assembly/place)
• ब्रह्मसदः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मसद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमास (ब्रह्मणः सदः = ब्रह्मसदः)

• गत्वा: having gone
• गत्वा: Purvakala (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: गम् (धातु) → गत्वा (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्यय (absolutive/gerund), अव्यय; पूर्वक्रिया

• स्नात्वा: having bathed
• स्नात्वा: Purvakala (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्ना (धातु) → स्नात्वा (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्यय (absolutive/gerund), अव्यय; पूर्वक्रिया

• अथ: then
• अथ: Discourse connector
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (sequence marker)

• तर्पणम्: libation/propitiatory offering (tarpaṇa)
• तर्पणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तर्पण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Third day (tṛtīya ahan): go to Brahmasad, bathe, then perform tarpaṇa; udaka-dāna done with well-water.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Right substance (kūpa-udaka) and right timing (tṛtīya ahan) render pitṛ-dāna imperishable (akṣaya).

Vedantic Theme: Apūrva/adr̥ṣṭa: unseen potency generated by properly performed rites; purity of dravya and niyama governs phala.

Application: Use clean, ritually appropriate water for tarpaṇa/udaka-dāna; observe the sequence and day-count in multi-day śrāddha pilgrimages.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: tīrtha and a named sacred precinct/maṇḍapa-like spot

Cross References

Related Themes: Continuation of Brahmatīrtha śrāddha procedure in 1.84.18–22 (day-wise itinerary and specific loci).

Characters & Entities

• Pitris
• Brahma

FAQs

What is the importance of tarpaṇa for Pitṛs in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that performing tarpaṇa as prescribed (including using well-water) yields akṣaya—an imperishable benefit for the Pitṛs and the performer—highlighting tarpaṇa as a core ancestral rite.

How does this verse relate to post-death rites described in the Garuda Purana?

It places a specific action on a specific timeline—“the third day”—indicating the structured sequence of rites (day-wise observances) that support the deceased and honor the ancestral line through Pitṛ offerings.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If observing ancestral rites, follow a disciplined schedule and offer clean water with intention; even when full ritual settings are unavailable, sincere tarpaṇa performed according to tradition emphasizes continuity of duty (dharma) toward ancestors.