Shloka 27

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

Devanagari script

स तत्फलमवाप्नोति कृत्वा श्राद्धं गयाशिरे / शमीपत्रप्रमाणेन पिण्डं दद्याद्गयाशिरे

Transliteration

sa tatphalamavāpnoti kṛtvā śrāddhaṃ gayāśire / śamīpatrapramāṇena piṇḍaṃ dadyādgayāśire

Translation

ਗਯਾਸ਼ਿਰ ਵਿੱਚ ਸ਼੍ਰਾਦ੍ਹ ਕਰ ਕੇ ਉਹ ਉਹੀ ਫਲ ਪ੍ਰਾਪਤ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੈ। ਅਤੇ ਗਯਾਸ਼ਿਰ ਵਿੱਚ ਸ਼ਮੀ ਪੱਤੇ ਦੇ ਮਾਪ ਜਿਤਨਾ ਪਿੰਡ ਅਰਪਣ ਕਰਨਾ ਚਾਹੀਦਾ ਹੈ।

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; फलम् इति पदस्य विशेषण

• फलम्: fruit/result
• फलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• अवाप्नोति: obtains
• अवाप्नोति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव + आप् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• कृत्वा: having done/performed
• कृत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + त्वा (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund)

• श्राद्धम्: śrāddha rite
• श्राद्धम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• गयाशिरे: at Gayāśiras (the head/top of Gayā)
• गयाशिरे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गया + शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (गयायाः शिरः)

• शमीपत्रप्रमाणेन: by the measure of a śamī-leaf
• शमीपत्रप्रमाणेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शमी + पत्र + प्रमाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (शमीपत्रस्य प्रमाणम्)

• पिण्डम्: a rice-ball (piṇḍa)
• पिण्डम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• दद्यात्: should give
• दद्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• गयाशिरे: at Gayāśiras
• गयाशिरे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गया + शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: When performing śrāddha at Gayāśira (Gayā-kṣetra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Specificity in ritual (place and measure) channels karma-phala; Gayāśira śrāddha yields extraordinary fruit comparable to vast dāna.

Vedantic Theme: Karma as disciplined action: external exactness supports internal śraddhā; sacred geography functions as upāya within dharma.

Application: When performing Gayā-śrāddha, follow local/śāstric paddhati including prescribed piṇḍa size; prioritize sincerity, purity, and proper guidance.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: tīrtha (sacred headland/peak/spot within Gayā-kṣetra)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Gayā-śrāddha passages prescribing piṇḍa-dāna details and phala-śruti; Adjacent verses linking Rudrapāda merit with Gayāśira śrāddha

Characters & Entities

• Gayāśira
• Śamī (leaf)
• Śrāddha
• Piṇḍa

FAQs

What is the importance of performing śrāddha at Gayāśira in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that performing śrāddha specifically at Gayāśira grants the same promised spiritual merit (“that very fruit”), highlighting Gayāśira as a highly efficacious site for ancestral rites.

How does this verse guide the correct practice of piṇḍa-dāna?

It gives a concrete ritual standard: the piṇḍa offered at Gayāśira should be sized according to a śamī leaf, emphasizing precision and tradition in śrāddha performance.

What is a practical application of this teaching today?

When performing śrāddha or piṇḍa-dāna—especially during pilgrimages—follow established measurements and procedure (rather than improvising), treating ancestral rites as disciplined dharma.