Shloka 32

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

Devanagari script

एकस्मिन् भोजिते विप्र कोटिर्भवति भोजिताः / कृते श्राद्धे ऽक्षयवटे दृष्ट्वा च प्रपितामहम्

Transliteration

ekasmin bhojite vipra koṭirbhavati bhojitāḥ / kṛte śrāddhe 'kṣayavaṭe dṛṣṭvā ca prapitāmaham

Translation

Ó brāhmaṇa, se até mesmo um só digno é alimentado, é como se um crore tivesse sido alimentado. E quando o śrāddha é realizado no Akṣaya-vaṭa, ao contemplar o próprio prapitāmaha (bisavô) entre os Pitṛs, o rito torna-se de fruto inesgotável.

Word by Word

एकस्मिन्in one (case), when one

भोजितेwhen fed

विप्रO brāhmaṇa

कोटिःa crore; ten million

भवतिbecomes, is

भोजिताः(as if) fed

कृतेwhen performed

श्राद्धेin the śrāddha rite

अक्षयवटेat the Akṣaya-vaṭa (imperishable banyan)

दृष्ट्वाhaving seen

चand

प्रपितामहम्the great-grandfather (ancestor)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitamaha

Timing: When śrāddha is performed at Akṣaya-vaṭa (Gayā); specific calendrical timing not stated here.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Merit can be multiplied by proper recipient (worthy brāhmaṇa) and by sacred locus (Akṣaya-vaṭa), yielding akṣaya-phala; ancestral connection becomes experientially affirmed (darśana).

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala’s dependence on deśa-kāla-pātra; akṣaya as a symbol pointing beyond finite merit toward enduring spiritual gain.

Application: Prioritize feeding even one truly qualified person with respect; perform śrāddha at potent tīrthas when possible; cultivate inner receptivity for ancestral remembrance rather than mere transaction.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: sacred tree/tīrtha locus

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: Akṣaya-vaṭa praise and ‘akṣaya-śrāddha’ statements; Garuda Purana: pātra-śuddhi (worthiness of recipient) and mahā-phala doctrines

Characters & Entities

Vipra (Brahmana)

Pitris (ancestors)

Prapitamaha (great-grandfather)

Akshaya-vata

FAQs

What is the importance of feeding (bhojana) in Garuda Purana Shraddha rituals?

This verse states that feeding even one worthy brāhmaṇa/devotee in a śrāddha context yields merit equivalent to feeding a crore, emphasizing quality, sanctity, and proper intent in the rite.

How does this verse relate to ancestors (Pitris) and the soul’s post-death journey?

By highlighting śrāddha and the presence of the prapitāmaha (great-grandfather), the verse underscores that ancestral rites strengthen the Pitṛ connection and are believed to support the departed lineage through ritual merit and remembrance.

Practical application of this teaching today?

Perform śrāddha with sincerity, feed at least one truly deserving person, and honor ancestors through charity and remembrance—prioritizing purity of conduct and intention over mere scale.