Shloka 43

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

Devanagari script

गयाशीर्षे ऽक्षयवटे पितॄणां दत्तमक्षयम् / धर्मारण्यं धर्मपृष्ठं धेनुकारण्यमेव च

Transliteration

gayāśīrṣe 'kṣayavaṭe pitṝṇāṃ dattamakṣayam / dharmāraṇyaṃ dharmapṛṣṭhaṃ dhenukāraṇyameva ca

Translation

ਗਯਾਸ਼ੀਰਸ਼ ਦੇ ਅਖਯ ਵਟ ਹੇਠ ਪਿਤਰਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਦਾਨ ਅਖੰਡ ਹੋ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ। ਇਸੇ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਧਰਮਾਰਣਯ, ਧਰਮਪ੍ਰਿਸ਼ਠ ਅਤੇ ਧੇਨੁਕਾਰਣਯ ਵੀ ਪੁੰਨ ਸਥਾਨ ਹਨ।

Word by Word

• gayāśīrṣe: at Gayā-śīrṣa (the head/top of Gayā)
• gayāśīrṣe: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gayā-śīrṣa (प्रातिपदिक; गया + शीर्ष)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (स्थलनाम), सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (gayāyāḥ śīrṣam)

• akṣayavaṭe: at the imperishable banyan (Akṣayavaṭa)
• akṣayavaṭe: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: akṣaya-vaṭa (प्रातिपदिक; अक्षय + वट)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (akṣayaḥ vaṭaḥ)

• pitṝṇām: of the ancestors
• pitṝṇām: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• dattam: given/offered
• dattam: Karta (Predicate/qualifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dā (दा) + datta (कृत-प्रत्यय; क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• akṣayam: imperishable
• akṣayam: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: akṣaya (प्रातिपदिक; a- + kṣaya)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying implied offering/result)

• dharmāraṇyam: Dharmāraṇya
• dharmāraṇyam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma-āraṇya (प्रातिपदिक; धर्म + आरण्य)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (स्थलनाम), प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (dharma-sambandhi āraṇyam)

• dharmapṛṣṭham: Dharmapṛṣṭha
• dharmapṛṣṭham: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma-pṛṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक; धर्म + पृष्ठ)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (स्थलनाम), प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• dhenukāraṇyam: Dhenukāraṇya
• dhenukāraṇyam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhenu-kāraṇya (प्रातिपदिक; धेनु + कारण्य)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (स्थलनाम), प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (dhenu-sambandhi kāraṇyam)

• eva: indeed/only
• eva: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphatic particle)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-बोधक (conjunction)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Svarga

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Certain tīrthas render śrāddha-dāna ‘akṣaya’ (inexhaustible), implying intensified karma-phala through sacred context.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala’s durability (akṣayatva) within saṃsāra; sacred supports (ālambana) for dharmic action.

Application: When performing ancestral offerings, choose auspicious places (or consecrate the space) and include acts of dāna to stabilize merit.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: tīrtha-kṣetra and sacred groves/forests

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.83: repeated ‘akṣaya’ motif around Gayā and Akṣaya-vaṭa (contextual)

Characters & Entities

• Pitṛs
• Gayā
• Akṣaya-vaṭa
• Dharmāraṇya
• Dharmapṛṣṭha
• Dhenukāraṇya

FAQs

What is the importance of Gayā and Akṣaya-vaṭa in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that offerings made to the Pitṛs at Gayā—especially at the Akṣaya-vaṭa—become akṣaya, meaning their spiritual fruit is considered inexhaustible.

How does this verse relate to śrāddha and pinda-dāna for ancestors?

By highlighting specific tīrthas where Pitṛ-offerings yield enduring results, the verse supports the Garuda Purana’s broader emphasis on śrāddha/pinda-dāna as effective rites for ancestral welfare.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If one performs ancestral rites, do them with sincerity and proper procedure; and when possible, choose traditionally revered tīrthas (like Gayā) while also maintaining regular remembrance and charity in the ancestors’ name.