Shloka 25

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

Devanagari script

अत्र मातुः पृथक् श्राद्धमन्यत्र पतिना सह / स्नात्वा दशाश्वमेधे तु दृष्ट्वा देवं पितामहम्

Transliteration

atra mātuḥ pṛthak śrāddhamanyatra patinā saha / snātvā daśāśvamedhe tu dṛṣṭvā devaṃ pitāmaham

Translation

Di sini śrāddha untuk ibu hendaknya dilakukan terpisah; di tempat lain dilakukan bersama suami. Setelah mandi suci di tīrtha Daśāśvamedha, seseorang memperoleh darśana Dewa Pitāmaha (Brahmā).

Word by Word

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• मातुः: of the mother
• मातुः: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• पृथक्: separately
• पृथक्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पृथक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• श्राद्धम्: śrāddha rite
• श्राद्धम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• अन्यत्र: elsewhere
• अन्यत्र: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb)

• पतिना: with the husband
• पतिना: Sahakaraka (Accompaniment/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/सह), एकवचन

• सह: together with
• सह: Sahakaraka (Accompaniment/सह)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: सह-अव्यय (postposition; accompaniment)

• स्नात्वा: having bathed
• स्नात्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्ना (धातु) + त्वा (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund)

• दशाश्वमेधे: at Daśāśvamedha (place/ghāṭa)
• दशाश्वमेधे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दश + अश्वमेध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन; द्विगुसमास (दश-अश्वमेधः)

• तु: indeed/and
• तु: Sambandha (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु) + त्वा (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund)

• देवम्: the god
• देवम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• पितामहम्: Pitāmaha (Brahmā)/the grandsire
• पितामहम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितामह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; देवम् इति पदस्य विशेषण/अपपद-सम्बन्ध (apposition)

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in discourse to Garuḍa)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Mata

Timing: At the specified ‘here’ (contextual locus in the text’s tīrtha sequence); elsewhere jointly with husband; linked with bathing at Daśāśvamedha

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Differentiated śrāddha obligations: mother’s rite may require separate performance in a specified context; tīrtha-snāna supports ritual purity and divine orientation.

Vedantic Theme: Kartavya-buddhi (sense of duty) and saṃskāra-śuddhi: honoring both maternal and paternal lines; tīrtha as external aid to inner purification.

Application: Ensure maternal lineage rites are not neglected; when tradition prescribes separation, follow it; combine pilgrimage/bathing with sincere remembrance and ethical living.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: tīrtha (river ghāṭa)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana śrāddha sections distinguishing mātṛ-śrāddha and pitṛ-śrāddha procedures; Nearby Gayā-focused verses that emphasize tīrtha efficacy

Characters & Entities

• Viṣṇu
• Garuḍa
• Pitāmaha (Brahmā)
• Daśāśvamedha (tīrtha)

FAQs

What is the importance of performing the mother's śrāddha separately in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

This verse states a specific śrāddha-procedure rule: the rite for the mother is prescribed as separate (pṛthak), indicating distinct ritual handling for maternal offerings in this context.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul or ancestral welfare?

By emphasizing correct śrāddha procedure and tīrtha-snāna, the verse frames ancestral welfare as supported through dharmic rites and merit-producing sacred actions, which are integral to post-death observances in the Purāṇic framework.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Follow tradition-specific śrāddha instructions (especially distinctions for maternal rites) under competent guidance, and treat pilgrimage/bathing at sacred places as an aid to cultivating dharma and remembrance of ancestors.