Shloka 43

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

Devanagari script

कृतकृत्यो विशालो ऽपि राज्यं कृत्वा दिवं ययौ / ये ऽस्मत्कुले तु पितरो लुप्तपिण्डोदकक्रियाः

Transliteration

kṛtakṛtyo viśālo 'pi rājyaṃ kṛtvā divaṃ yayau / ye 'smatkule tu pitaro luptapiṇḍodakakriyāḥ

Translation

Até o poderoso rei Viśāla, tendo cumprido o seu dharma, governou o reino e depois partiu para o céu. Porém, os antepassados de nossa linhagem, para os quais cessaram as oferendas de piṇḍa e as libações de água (udaka), permanecem privados desses ritos.

Word by Word

• कृतकृत्यः: one who has accomplished his duty
• कृतकृत्यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृतकृत्य (प्रातिपदिक; कृत + कृत्य)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• विशालः: great, mighty
• विशालः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विशाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

• अपि: even, although
• अपि: Sambandha/Modifier (सम्बन्ध/विशेषण-भाव)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle); concessive/emphatic

• राज्यम्: kingdom, rule
• राज्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्मपद

• कृत्वा: having done, having ruled
• कृत्वा: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (Adverbial to main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having done)

• दिवम्: to heaven
• दिवम्: Karma (Object/कर्म) / Gati-karman (destination)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिव्/द्यौ (प्रातिपदिक: दिव)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (दिव्), द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; गन्तव्य (goal)

• ययौ: went
• ययौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ये: those who
• ये: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative pronoun)

• अस्मत्कुले: in our family
• अस्मत्कुले: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मत् (सर्वनाम) + कुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (अस्माकं कुलम्)

• तु: but, indeed
• तु: Sambandha/Discourse marker
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle); contrast/emphasis

• पितरः: forefathers, ancestors
• पितरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• लुप्तपिण्डोदकक्रियाः: whose piṇḍa-and-water rites are lapsed
• लुप्तपिण्डोदकक्रियाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लुप्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + पिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक) + उदक (प्रातिपदिक) + क्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (पिण्ड-उदक-क्रिया लुप्ता येषाम्)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Svarga

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Pitṛ-ṛṇa (debt to ancestors) is discharged through piṇḍa and udaka; neglect causes ancestral deprivation despite worldly success narratives.

Vedantic Theme: Karma and saṃskāra as sustaining links between embodied life and subtle post-mortem states; dharma as purifier of lineage obligations.

Application: Maintain regular śrāddha/tarpaṇa; audit family rites for lapsed offerings; perform remedial śrāddha for neglected pitṛs.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: kingdom/lineage setting

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: śrāddha-mahātmyas and pitṛ-tarpaṇa sections (general parallel); Garuda Purana: discussions on pitṛs deprived of piṇḍa/udaka when rites lapse (general)

Characters & Entities

• Pitris
• Viśāla

FAQs

What is the importance of piṇḍa and udaka offerings in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights that ancestors are considered dependent on the continuity of piṇḍa (food offering) and udaka (water libation); when these rites lapse, the Pitṛs are described as deprived of ritual support.

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

By contrasting a righteous ruler’s departure to heaven with neglected ancestors, the verse implies that post-death welfare is tied not only to personal merit but also to the performance of prescribed post-death rites by descendants.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain regular śrāddha/tarpaṇa practices (as per one’s tradition) and uphold family dharma, treating ancestral rites as an ethical responsibility rather than a mere formality.