Shloka 66

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

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मप्रकल्पितं स्थानं विप्रा ब्रह्मप्रकल्पपिताः / पूजितैः पूजिताः सर्वे पितृभिः सह देवताः

Transliteration

brahmaprakalpitaṃ sthānaṃ viprā brahmaprakalpapitāḥ / pūjitaiḥ pūjitāḥ sarve pitṛbhiḥ saha devatāḥ

Translation

Wahai para brāhmaṇa, inilah tempat yang ditetapkan oleh Brahmā; para Pitṛ (leluhur) juga diatur menurut ketetapan Brahmā. Apabila Pitṛ dipuja, maka semua dewa turut dipuja—bersama-sama dengan Pitṛ.

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मप्रकल्पितम्: ordained/arranged by Brahmā
• ब्रह्मप्रकल्पितम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्म (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रकल्पित (कृदन्त; √कॢप्/कल्प् धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त) — past passive participle used adjectivally

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

• विप्राः: Brahmins
• विप्राः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन

• ब्रह्मप्रकल्पपिताः: the Pitṛs ordained by Brahmā
• ब्रह्मप्रकल्पपिताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्म (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रकल्प (प्रातिपदिक) + पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; समासः—(ब्रह्मणा प्रकल्पाः) पितरः इति षष्ठी/तत्पुरुषभावः

• पूजितैः: by the worshipped (ones)
• पूजितैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूजित (कृदन्त; √पूज् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle)

• पूजिताः: are worshipped
• पूजिताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूजित (कृदन्त; √पूज् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन

• पितृभिः: with/by the Pitṛs
• पितृभिः: Sahakari/Karana (Accompaniment/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), बहुवचन

• सह: together with
• सह: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपसर्गसदृश-निपातः/संबन्धबोधकः (preposition-like indeclinable)

• देवताः: deities
• देवताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (addressing Garuḍa/Vinatā-putra in the Garuḍa Purāṇa dialogue context)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Śrāddha occasions (including parva days) when Pitṛs are invoked with svadhā and brāhmaṇas are honored.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Pitṛ-yajña as a comprehensive act of worship: honoring ancestors simultaneously honors the devas, grounded in cosmic ordinance (Brahmā-prakalpita).

Vedantic Theme: Ṛta/dharma as cosmic order; interdependence of visible and invisible worlds; yajña as harmonizing principle.

Application: Treat śrāddha/tarpaṇa as a complete devotional duty; perform ancestral rites with the understanding that it fulfills broader religious obligations.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa/Śrāddha sections emphasizing Pitṛ-tarpaṇa as obligatory (pitṛ-yajña); Passages stating ‘pitṝṇāṃ tuṣṭau devāḥ tuṣyanti’ type equivalence in śrāddha contexts

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Vipras (Brāhmaṇas)
• Pitṛs (Ancestors)
• Devatās (Deities)

FAQs

What is the importance of Pitṛ worship in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

This verse states that Pitṛ worship is divinely ordained (by Brahmā) and that honouring the Pitṛs simultaneously honours the Devatās, making Śrāddha a comprehensive act of reverence.

How does this verse explain the connection between ancestors and deities?

It presents a ritual principle: when the Pitṛs are duly worshipped, the gods are considered worshipped along with them, implying an integrated sacred order linking Pitṛ-loka duties with deva-satisfaction.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform Śrāddha/tarpaṇa with sincerity and proper intent, understanding it as both gratitude to ancestors and a dharmic act that supports overall spiritual harmony.