Shloka 30

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

Devanagari script

नरकस्था दिवं यान्ति स्वर्गस्था मोक्षमाप्नुयुः / पञ्चमे ऽह्नि गन्दालोले स्नात्वा वटतले ततः

Transliteration

narakasthā divaṃ yānti svargasthā mokṣamāpnuyuḥ / pañcame 'hni gandālole snātvā vaṭatale tataḥ

Translation

Mereka yang berada di neraka menuju ke syurga, dan mereka yang berada di syurga mencapai mokṣa (pembebasan). Kemudian pada hari kelima, setelah mandi di Gandālola, hendaklah pergi seterusnya ke pangkal pokok beringin.

Word by Word

नरकस्थाःthose situated in hell

दिवम्to heaven

यान्तिgo

स्वर्गस्थाःthose situated in heaven

मोक्षम्liberation

आप्नुयुःmay attain

पञ्चमेon the fifth

अह्निday

गन्दालोलेat Gandā-lola (a place/pond named Gandā-lola)

स्नात्वाhaving bathed

वटतलेat the base/ground under the banyan

ततःthen, thereafter

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Moksha

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Pañcame ahni (on the fifth day) with snāna at Gandālola, then proceeding to vaṭa-mūla as part of the Gayā-śrāddha sequence.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Extraordinary salvific efficacy of Gayā-śrāddha: it can elevate even naraka-bound beings to svarga and svarga-dwellers toward mokṣa.

Vedantic Theme: Grace-mediated transcendence of karmic trajectory; mokṣa as the highest puruṣārtha surpassing svarga.

Application: Follow prescribed tīrtha-krama (day-wise sequence), including purificatory baths and subsequent offerings, with the aim of ultimate uplift for ancestors.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: tīrtha (bathing spot) and vṛkṣa-sthāna (vaṭa-mūla)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: Pretakalpa claims on śrāddha’s power to relieve preta/naraka conditions; Garuda Purana: Gayā-śrāddha itinerary references (snāna, vaṭa, piṇḍa)

FAQs

What is the importance of the fifth-day rite mentioned in the Garuda Purana?

This verse links the “fifth day” with a purificatory bath at a named sacred place and moving to a vaṭa (banyan) spot, indicating a structured sequence of post-death/ritual observances aimed at purification and upliftment.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

It presents a graded spiritual ascent: beings in naraka can reach svarga, and those in svarga can attain moksha—implying that purification and merit can transform one’s post-mortem state toward liberation.

What is a practical application of this teaching today?

Treat purification (snāna), sacred remembrance, and disciplined observance of rites as supports for ethical living and spiritual progress, keeping liberation (moksha) as the ultimate aim beyond temporary enjoyments.