Shloka 4

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

Devanagari script

तस्यां शिलायां श्राद्धादिकर्तारो ब्रह्मलोकगाः / गयासुरस्य यन्मुण्डं तस्य पृष्ठे शिला यतः

Transliteration

tasyāṃ śilāyāṃ śrāddhādikartāro brahmalokagāḥ / gayāsurasya yanmuṇḍaṃ tasya pṛṣṭhe śilā yataḥ

Translation

Sobre esa piedra sagrada, quienes realizan el śrāddha y ritos afines alcanzan el mundo de Brahmā; pues esa piedra existe sobre la espalda de Gayāsura, y se dice que es, en verdad, su cabeza.

Word by Word

• तस्याम्: in that
• तस्याम्: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; ‘शिलायाम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषण-रूपेण

• शिलायाम्: on/in the stone
• शिलायाम्: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• श्राद्धादिकर्तारः: performers of śrāddha and related rites
• श्राद्धादिकर्तारः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध + आदि + कर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; ‘कर्तारः’ = कर्तृ-शब्दः

• ब्रह्मलोकगाः: gone to Brahmaloka
• ब्रह्मलोकगाः: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्मलोक + ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् ‘श्राद्धादिकर्तारः’

• गयासुरस्य: of Gaya-asura
• गयासुरस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गयासुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• यत्: which
• यत्: Sambandha (Relative/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; ‘मुण्डम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• मुण्डम्: head/skull
• मुण्डम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• तस्य: of that (asura)
• तस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• पृष्ठे: on the back
• पृष्ठे: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• शिला: stone
• शिला: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• यतः: because
• यतः: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यतस् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, कारणार्थक (because)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue to Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Svarga

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual action (śrāddha) performed at a uniquely empowered locus yields extraordinary merit culminating in higher loka attainment (Brahmaloka).

Vedantic Theme: Gradation of karmaphala and lokas; sacred place as nimitta enhancing ritual efficacy within pravṛtti-mārga.

Application: If undertaking śrāddha for ancestors, follow place-specific injunctions at Gayā/Pretaśilā with correct procedure and intention.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: tirtha-śilā on a mythic body-site

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana sections narrating Gayāsura and the establishment of Gayā as pitṛ-tīrtha; śrāddha-phala descriptions

Characters & Entities

• Brahmaloka
• Gayāsura
• Gayā-śilā
• Śrāddha

FAQs

What is the importance of Gayā-śilā in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that performing śrāddha and related ancestral rites on the Gayā-śilā yields an exalted fruit—attainment of Brahmaloka—highlighting the stone’s exceptional sanctity.

How does this verse connect ritual merit with sacred place (tīrtha)?

It links the efficacy of śrāddha to the specific locus of Gayā-śilā, grounding ritual merit in a sacred geography explained through the Gayāsura narrative (the stone associated with his head/back).

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If one undertakes śrāddha, do it with proper intention, faith, and correct procedure—especially at recognized tīrthas like Gayā when possible—while also honoring ancestors through ethical living and charity.