Shloka 35

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

Devanagari script

धर्मारण्ये मतङ्गस्य वाप्यां श्राद्धाद्दिवं व्रजेत् / धर्मयूपे च कूपे त पितॄणामनृणो भवेत्

Transliteration

dharmāraṇye mataṅgasya vāpyāṃ śrāddhāddivaṃ vrajet / dharmayūpe ca kūpe ta pitṝṇāmanṛṇo bhavet

Translation

ധർമാരണ്യത്തിൽ മതംഗന്റെ വാപി (കുളം)ക്കരയിൽ ശ്രാദ്ധം ചെയ്താൽ മനുഷ്യൻ സ്വർഗത്തിലേക്ക് പോകുന്നു; ധർമയൂപത്തിലെ കൂപം (കിണർ)ക്കരയിൽ ചെയ്താൽ പിതൃഋണത്തിൽ നിന്ന് വിമുക്തനാകുന്നു।

Word by Word

• धर्मारण्ये: in the Dharma-forest (holy grove)
• धर्मारण्ये: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म + अरण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः (धर्मस्य अरण्यम्)

• मतङ्गस्य: of Mataṅga
• मतङ्गस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मतङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• वाप्याम्: in the pond/tank
• वाप्याम्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वापी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• श्राद्धात्: by (performing) śrāddha
• श्राद्धात्: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, पञ्चमी-विभक्तिः (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचनम्; हेतौ/कारणे (ablative of cause: 'from/by means of')

• दिवम्: to heaven
• दिवम्: Gati-Karma (Goal/Object of motion/गतिकर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• व्रजेत्: should go
• व्रजेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √व्रज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्

• धर्मयूपे: at the Dharma-yūpa (sacrificial post)
• धर्मयूपे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म + यूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः (धर्मस्य यूपः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययम्

• कूपे: at the well
• कूपे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण/विरोधार्थक-अव्ययम्

• पितॄणाम्: to/with respect to the ancestors
• पितॄणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• अनृणः: free from debt/obligation
• अनृणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन् + ऋण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; नञ्-तत्पुरुषः (ऋणः न)

• भवेत्: should become
• भवेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Svarga

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śrāddha at designated sacred sites yields svarga and fulfills the obligation to ancestors (pitṛ-ṛṇa), making one ‘anṛṇa’ (debt-free).

Vedantic Theme: Ṛṇa-traya (debts) framework: fulfilling pitṛ-ṛṇa through rites supports dharmic life; loka-phala as karmic result.

Application: Observe annual śrāddha and tarpaṇa to discharge pitṛ-ṛṇa; when possible, perform at recognized tīrthas; otherwise perform with proper faith and charity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: forest tīrtha; pond; well

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: tīrtha-śrāddha lists and their specific fruits (svarga, higher lokas, pitṛ satisfaction); Garuda Purana: pitṛ-ṛṇa and anṛṇa status through śrāddha

Characters & Entities

• Pitris
• Sage Matanga
• Dharmaranya
• Dharmayupa

FAQs

What is the importance of śrāddha at sacred places in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that śrāddha performed at specific tīrthas yields specific fruits—here, heaven at Matanga’s pond in Dharmāraṇya and freedom from ancestral debt at Dharmayūpa’s well.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It links correct ancestral rites (śrāddha) with post-death merit: the performer gains higher worlds (diva) and fulfills obligations to the Pitṛs, supporting auspicious progress after death.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform śrāddha with sincerity—especially during prescribed periods (e.g., pitṛ-pakṣa)—and, where possible, at recognized tīrthas, with the intent of honoring ancestors and discharging familial dharma.