Shloka 67

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

Devanagari script

तर्पयेत्तु गयाविप्रान्हव्यकव्यैर्विधानतः / स्थानं देहपरित्यागे गयायां तु विधीयते

Transliteration

tarpayettu gayāviprānhavyakavyairvidhānataḥ / sthānaṃ dehaparityāge gayāyāṃ tu vidhīyate

Translation

വിധിപ്രകാരം ഗയയിലെ വിപ്രന്മാരെ ഹവ്യവും കവ്യവും—ദേവകാര്യത്തിനും പിതൃകാര്യത്തിനും യോജ്യമായ അർപ്പണങ്ങളാൽ തൃപ്തിപ്പെടുത്തണം. ദേഹപരിത്യാഗ സമയത്തിനായി ഗയയിൽ തന്നെ പുണ്യസ്ഥലം നിശ്ചയിക്കപ്പെട്ടിരിക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

• तर्पयेत्: should satisfy (offer tarpaṇa)
• तर्पयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √तृप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष? (न); मध्यमपुरुष (2), एकवचन; causative? (तर्पयति—णिच्) — ‘should satisfy/offer libations’

• तु: indeed; but
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपातः (particle)

• गयाविप्रान्: the Brahmins of Gayā
• गयाविप्रान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गया (प्रातिपदिक) + विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), बहुवचन; समासः—गयायां स्थिताः विप्राः (locative-tatpurusha)

• हव्यकव्यैः: with havya and kavya offerings
• हव्यकव्यैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हव्य (प्रातिपदिक) + कव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः

• विधानतः: according to the prescribed procedure
• विधानतः: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त (ablatival adverb) — ‘according to rule’

• स्थानम्: a place
• स्थानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• देहपरित्यागे: at the time of abandoning the body (death)
• देहपरित्यागे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देह (प्रातिपदिक) + परित्याग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; समासः—देहस्य परित्यागः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• गयायाम्: in Gayā
• गयायाम्: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन

• तु: indeed; and
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपातः

• विधीयते: is ordained; is prescribed
• विधीयते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √धा (धातु) + वि (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लट् (present), आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगः (passive)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Performed at Gayā tīrtha; especially auspicious when undertaken as a pilgrimage and in connection with end-of-life concerns (deha-parityāga context).

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Proper tarpaṇa/śrāddha integrates offerings to devas (havis) and Pitṛs (kavya); Gayā is singled out as a sanctifying locus for end-of-life and ancestral rites.

Vedantic Theme: Karma and saṃskāra at life’s threshold; tīrtha as a support for dharma and inner purification.

Application: When undertaking Gayā-śrāddha, honor qualified brāhmaṇas with correct havis/kavya procedure; cultivate preparedness for death through dharmic living and timely rites.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: tirtha/kshetra

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Gayā-māhātmya/śrāddha passages on havis vs kavya distinctions; Sections prescribing brāhmaṇa-tarpaṇa and pitṛ-tarpaṇa as paired obligations

Characters & Entities

• Gayā
• Brahmins
• Devas
• Pitṛs (ancestors)

FAQs

What is the importance of Gayā in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights Gayā as a specially ordained sacred place connected with death-related rites, where properly performed offerings and rites are considered particularly efficacious.

What do “havya” and “kavya” mean in this verse?

“Havya” refers to offerings directed to the Devas, while “kavya” refers to offerings directed to the Pitṛs (ancestors), indicating that both divine and ancestral obligations are fulfilled in the prescribed manner.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform śrāddha/tarpaṇa with correctness and sincerity—honoring both ancestral duties and sacred tradition—and support qualified priests ethically as part of the rite.