Shloka 38

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

Devanagari script

श्राद्धकृच्छ स्वपुष्टायां त्रिः सफ्तकुंलमुद्धरेत् / श्राद्धकृन्मुण्डपृष्ठादौ ब्रह्मलोकं नयेत्पितॄन्

Transliteration

śrāddhakṛccha svapuṣṭāyāṃ triḥ saphtakuṃlamuddharet / śrāddhakṛnmuṇḍapṛṣṭhādau brahmalokaṃ nayetpitṝn

Translation

श्राद्धकृच्छ स्वपुष्टायां त्रिः सप्तकुलमुद्धरेत्। श्राद्धकृन्मुण्डपृष्ठादौ ब्रह्मलोकं नयेत्पितॄन्॥

Word by Word

• श्राद्धकृच्छः: one who performs śrāddha (performer)
• श्राद्धकृच्छः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध + कृच्छ (प्रातिपदिक); श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + कृच्छ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; nominative singular (masculine)

• स्वपुष्टायाम्: in/at Svapuṣṭā (place/name)
• स्वपुष्टायाम्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व + पुष्टा (प्रातिपदिक); स्व (प्रातिपदिक/अव्यय-उपसर्गवत्) + पुष्टा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; locative singular (feminine)

• त्रिः: three times
• त्रिः: Kriya-viseshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: त्रिः (अव्यय)
• Form: संख्यावाचक-अव्यय; adverb ‘thrice’

• सप्तकुलम्: seven lineages/families
• सप्तकुलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सप्त + कुल (प्रातिपदिक); सप्त (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + कुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; accusative singular (neuter)

• उद्धरेत्: should uplift; should rescue
• उद्धरेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद् + हृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (सम्भावना/विधान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; optative, 3rd person singular

• श्राद्धकृत्: the śrāddha-performer
• श्राद्धकृत्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध + कृत् (प्रातिपदिक); श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + कृत् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; nominative singular (masculine)

• मुण्डपृष्ठादौ: at Muṇḍapṛṣṭha and other (places)
• मुण्डपृष्ठादौ: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुण्ड + पृष्ठ + आदि (प्रातिपदिक); मुण्ड (प्रातिपदिक) + पृष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; locative singular (neuter)

• ब्रह्मलोकम्: Brahma-world
• ब्रह्मलोकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्म + लोक (प्रातिपदिक); ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; accusative singular (masculine)

• नयेत्: should lead
• नयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नी (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (सम्भावना/विधान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; optative, 3rd person singular

• पितॄन्: ancestors (pitṛs)
• पितॄन्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), बहुवचन; accusative plural (masculine)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Svarga

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Place-specific śrāddha yields amplified results: lineage uplift (sapta-kula) and higher-loka attainment for ancestors.

Vedantic Theme: Gradation of lokas as karmaphala; ritual merit (puṇya) can elevate jīvas within saṃsāra though not identical to final mokṣa.

Application: If undertaking tīrtha-śrāddha, prioritize reputed sites and perform with repetition/steadfastness (triḥ) and proper procedure.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: tirtha/kshetra

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: lists of tīrthas for śrāddha and their specific phalas; Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: Brahmaloka/Svarga as outcomes of puṇya and rites

Characters & Entities

• Pitris
• Brahmaloka

FAQs

What is the importance of performing Śrāddha at sacred tīrthas in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

This verse states that performing Śrāddha at specific tīrthas yields amplified results—uplifting one’s lineage (seven generations) and enabling the Pitṛs to attain higher realms such as Brahmaloka.

How does this verse explain the path or upliftment of the ancestors (Pitṛs)?

It presents Śrāddha as a “conveying” act (nayet) that can elevate Pitṛs to Brahmaloka, indicating that properly performed rites—especially at potent sacred sites—support the ancestors’ onward movement to higher lokas.

What is a practical application of this teaching today?

Perform Śrāddha with sincerity and correctness (faith, purity, proper offerings), and when possible undertake it at revered pilgrimage sites; at minimum, treat ancestral rites as a disciplined dharmic duty aimed at gratitude and spiritual welfare of the departed.