Shloka 17

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

Devanagari script

रामेश्वरं गदालोलं दृष्ट्वा स्वर्गमवाप्नुयात् / ब्रह्मेश्वरं तथा दृष्ट्वा मुच्यते ब्रह्महत्यया

Transliteration

rāmeśvaraṃ gadālolaṃ dṛṣṭvā svargamavāpnuyāt / brahmeśvaraṃ tathā dṛṣṭvā mucyate brahmahatyayā

Translation

गदा को क्रीड़ापूर्वक हिलाने वाले रामेश्वर के दर्शन से स्वर्ग की प्राप्ति होती है। तथा ब्रह्मेश्वर के दर्शन से ब्रह्महत्या के पाप से मुक्ति मिलती है।

Word by Word

• रामेश्वरम्: Rāmeśvara
• रामेश्वरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (रामस्य ईश्वरः)

• गदालोलम्: (one) playful/unstable with a mace; mace-wielding
• गदालोलम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गदा (प्रातिपदिक) + लोल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्; समासः तत्पुरुषः (गदायां/गदया लोलः)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriya (Gerundial action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive)

• स्वर्गम्: heaven
• स्वर्गम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अवाप्नुयात्: may attain
• अवाप्नुयात्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव + आप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदी; उपसर्गः अव-

• ब्रह्मेश्वरम्: Brahmeśvara
• ब्रह्मेश्वरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (ब्रह्मणः ईश्वरः)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/समुच्चयार्थ (thus/likewise)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriya (Gerundial action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive)

• मुच्यते: is freed
• मुच्यते: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदी, कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive)

• ब्रह्महत्यया: by/through (the sin of) brahmin-slaying
• ब्रह्महत्यया: Karana/Hetu (Instrument/Cause/करण-हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + हत्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/हेतु), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (ब्रह्मणः हत्या)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Darśana of sacred īśvara-forms yields karmic fruits: svarga-prāpti and removal of grave sin; emphasizes the potency of kṣetra and devotion as karmic transformer.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-kṣaya through īśvara-anugraha; movement from laukika-phala (svarga) toward the possibility of deeper release when bondage is cut.

Application: Approach pilgrimage with confession, restraint, and charity; treat ‘seeing’ as full worship (darśana + namaskāra + japa), not tourism.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: tirtha/temple-shrine

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana tīrtha-māhātmya lists where specific shrines are assigned specific phalas (svarga, pāpa-kṣaya, pitṛ-ṛṇa discharge)

Characters & Entities

• Rameshvara
• Brahmeshvara

FAQs

What is the importance of tirtha-darshana (pilgrimage sight) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that mere darśana of specific sacred shrines grants powerful results—Rāmeśvara-darśana leads to svarga, and Brahmeśvara-darśana functions as an expiation that frees one from brahma-hatyā.

How does this verse explain relief from severe sins like brahma-hatyā?

It presents a tirtha-based prāyaścitta: beholding Brahmeśvara is described as removing the binding effect of brahma-hatyā, indicating the Purana’s emphasis on sacred places as instruments of purification when approached with faith and proper observance.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat pilgrimage and temple darśana as ethical renewal: combine visits to holy sites with repentance, self-restraint, charity, and avoidance of harm—so the outer act (darśana) is supported by inner reform (ācāra).