Shloka 12

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

Devanagari script

कव्यवाहस्तथा सोमो यमश्चैवार्यमा तथा / अग्निष्वात्ता बर्हिषदः सोमपाः पिदृदेवताः

Transliteration

kavyavāhastathā somo yamaścaivāryamā tathā / agniṣvāttā barhiṣadaḥ somapāḥ pidṛdevatāḥ

Translation

Kavyavāha, Soma, Yama dan Aryamā—bersama para Agniṣvātta, Barhiṣad dan Somapā—ialah para dewa yang memerintah dan menaungi Pitṛ, yakni roh leluhur.

Word by Word

• कव्यवाहः: Kavyavāha (Agni as carrier of ancestral offering)
• कव्यवाहः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कव्य + वाह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘कव्यं वहति’ (carrier of oblations to Pitṛs; epithet of Agni)

• तथा: also
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/प्रकारार्थक-अव्यय (also/likewise)

• सोमः: Soma
• सोमः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सोम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• यमः: Yama
• यमः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle: indeed/just)

• अर्यमा: Aryaman
• अर्यमा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्यमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तथा: also
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/प्रकारार्थक-अव्यय (also/likewise)

• अग्निष्वात्ताः: Agniṣvāttas (a class of Pitṛs)
• अग्निष्वात्ताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्निष्वात्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; पितृगणविशेषः—‘अग्निना स्वात्ताः’ (those whose offering is consumed by fire)

• बर्हिषदः: Barhiṣads (a class of Pitṛs)
• बर्हिषदः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बर्हिषद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; पितृगणविशेषः

• सोमपाः: Somapās (Soma-drinking Pitṛs)
• सोमपाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सोमप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘सोमं पिबन्ति’ (Soma-drinkers)

• पितृदेवताः: Pitṛ-deities (ancestral gods)
• पितृदेवताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ + देवता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘पितरः देवताः येषाम्’ / ‘पितृदेवतारूपाः’ (ancestral deities)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Invoked/remembered during śrāddha and tarpaṇa sequences (implied).

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śrāddha and pitṛ-kārya are supported by specific presiding deities; ancestral worship is integrated into a structured divine order.

Vedantic Theme: Interconnectedness of ritual, cosmic intelligences, and lineage continuity; dharma as participation in a larger sacred ecology.

Application: Invoke and honor pitṛ-deities appropriately during śrāddha/tarpaṇa; maintain gratitude to lineage and uphold duties that sustain family and society.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: pitṛ-tarpaṇa/śrāddha sections listing pitṛ-gaṇas and their deities (thematic within Pretakalpa/śrāddha material)

Characters & Entities

• Kavyavāha
• Soma
• Yama
• Aryamā
• Agniṣvāttas
• Barhiṣads
• Somapās
• Pitṛs

FAQs

What is the importance of Pitṛ-deities in the Garuda Purana?

This verse identifies the principal divine authorities connected with the Pitṛs, indicating that Śrāddha and ancestral offerings are not merely social customs but are linked to specific cosmic presiding powers acknowledged in the tradition.

How does this verse relate to the path of the soul after death?

By naming Yama alongside Pitṛ-related deities, the verse situates ancestral rites within the broader post-death order: Yama governs the departed, while Pitṛ-deities are connected with ancestral reception and the efficacy of offerings made for the deceased.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform Śrāddha and tarpaṇa with clarity and respect—understanding that the rite is directed through recognized Pitṛ-deities—while also living ethically so that one’s own post-death journey aligns with dharma.