Padma Purana — Svarga Khanda, Shloka 3
The Glory of Gayā and the Pilgrimage Circuit of Allied Tīrthas
यत्राक्षय्यवटो नाम त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुतः । पितॄणां तत्र वै दत्तमक्षयं भवति प्रभो
yatrākṣayyavaṭo nāma triṣu lokeṣu viśrutaḥ | pitṝṇāṃ tatra vai dattamakṣayaṃ bhavati prabho
जहाँ ‘अक्षयवट’ नामक वटवृक्ष तीनों लोकों में प्रसिद्ध है—हे प्रभो! वहाँ पितरों के लिए दिया गया दान निश्चय ही अक्षय हो जाता है।
Uncertain (context not provided; likely within a Pulastya–Bhīṣma dialogue common to the Padma Purāṇa’s pilgrimage sections)
Concept: Śrāddha and pitṛ-offerings at a properly empowered tīrtha yield akṣaya (imperishable) results.
Application: Honor ancestors through regular remembrance, charity in their name, and ethical living; when possible, perform śrāddha with sincerity rather than display.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: forest
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A colossal banyan spreads like a living mandala, its aerial roots descending as pillars, each leaf catching a faint divine sheen. Beneath it, a devotee offers water and sesame with cupped hands, while subtle ancestral forms hover peacefully, receiving the offering that turns into an endless stream of light.","primary_figures":["devotee performing pitṛ-tarpaṇa","pitṛs (subtle, luminous)","Akṣayya-vaṭa banyan (personified sacred tree)"],"setting":"Sacred banyan grove near Gayā with a small altar stone, kusa grass, and ritual vessels","lighting_mood":"temple lamp-lit","color_palette":["deep banyan green","bronze-brown","ghee-lamp amber","smoke gray","pearl white"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: monumental Akṣayya-vaṭa with gold leaf highlights on leaves and roots, devotee in traditional dhoti offering tarpaṇa, pitṛs as faint gold-embossed silhouettes, ornate border with lotus and śaṅkha-cakra motifs, rich maroon and emerald tones.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: intricate banyan foliage rendered with fine brushwork, quiet ritual scene with copper lota and sesame, soft halos for pitṛs, gentle earth palette with cool shadows, lyrical stillness.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: stylized banyan with rhythmic roots, devotee in profile with bold outlines, pitṛs as pale ochre figures, warm red-yellow-green pigments, sacred geometry framing the tree as a cosmic axis.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: banyan as central motif surrounded by floral borders, repeated leaf patterns, small vignettes of tarpaṇa around the trunk, deep indigo background with gold and white detailing to signify akṣaya radiance."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"meditative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["rustling leaves","low temple bell","soft mantra hum","silence between phrases"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: यत्राक्षय्यवटो = यत्र + अक्षय्यवटः; दत्तमक्षयं = दत्तम् + अक्षयम्
FAQs
It states that offerings made at the renowned Akṣayya-vaṭa, especially for the Pitṛs, yield ‘akṣaya’ (inexhaustible) merit—highlighting place-sanctity (tīrtha-māhātmya) in ritual giving.
Pitṛs are one’s ancestral forebears; offerings (such as tarpana, piṇḍa, or dāna dedicated in their name) are performed to support and honor them, and to uphold filial duty (pitṛ-ṛṇa).
The verse elevates gratitude and responsibility toward one’s lineage: sincere, properly dedicated giving—especially for ancestors—creates enduring spiritual benefit rather than short-lived reward.