Shloka 2

Tīrtha-Māhātmya: Catalog of Sacred Places and the Supreme Inner Tīrtha

Devanagari script

गङ्गाद्वारे प्रयागे च गङ्गासागरसङ्गमे / प्रयागं परमं तीर्थं मृतानां भुक्तिमुक्तिदम्

Transliteration

gaṅgādvāre prayāge ca gaṅgāsāgarasaṅgame / prayāgaṃ paramaṃ tīrthaṃ mṛtānāṃ bhuktimuktidam

Translation

గంగాద్వారము, ప్రయాగము మరియు గంగాసాగర సంగమములో—ప్రయాగము పరమ తీర్థమని చెప్పబడెను; అది మృతులకు భోగమును, మోక్షమును రెండింటినీ ప్రసాదించును.

Word by Word

• gaṅgā-dvāre: at Gaṅgādvāra (Haridvāra)
• gaṅgā-dvāre: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṅgā + dvāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: ‘of Gaṅgā’ + ‘gate/door’) (neuter locative singular)

• prayāge: at Prayāga
• prayāge: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prayāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन (masc. locative singular)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (conjunction)

• gaṅgā-sāgara-saṅgame: at the confluence of the Gaṅgā and the ocean
• gaṅgā-sāgara-saṅgame: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṅgā + sāgara + saṅgama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: ‘of Gaṅgā and ocean’ + ‘confluence’) (masc. locative singular)

• prayāgam: Prayāga
• prayāgam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prayāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (masc. accusative singular)

• paramam: supreme
• paramam: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (neuter accusative singular; agreeing with tīrtham)

• tīrtham: pilgrimage place
• tīrtham: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tīrtha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (neuter accusative singular)

• mṛtānām: of the dead
• mṛtānām: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛta (√mṛ, धातु + kta) (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (genitive plural; ‘of the dead’)

• bhukti-mukti-dam: granting enjoyment and liberation
• bhukti-mukti-dam: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhukti + mukti + da (√dā, धातु) + a (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (उपपद: ‘giver of enjoyment and liberation’) (neuter accusative singular; agreeing with tīrtham)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Moksha

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Tīrtha-śrāddha at Prayāga/saṅgama; especially during auspicious bathing days (e.g., amāvāsyā, parva, kumbha periods)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Karma-phala is intensified by place (deśa) and rite (kriyā): at Prayāga, acts connected to the departed can yield bhukti and mukti.

Vedantic Theme: Mokṣa is ultimately by knowledge/grace, yet Purāṇic pedagogy presents tīrtha-kriyā as a powerful purifier and grace-channel supporting liberation.

Application: If performing ancestral rites or memorial bathing/charity, prioritize Prayāga-saṅgama when feasible; otherwise emulate by sincere saṅkalpa, charity, and remembrance at local waters.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: tīrtha (river threshold; confluence; sea-confluence)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: tīrtha-māhātmya section emphasizing bhukti-mukti phala; Garuda Purana: Śrāddha-kāṇḍa themes—benefit to the departed through rites and offerings

Characters & Entities

• Ganga
• Gangadvara (Haridwar)
• Prayaga
• Gangasagara

FAQs

What is the importance of Prayaga in the Garuda Purana?

This verse elevates Prayaga as the supreme tīrtha, especially connected with rites for the departed, promising both bhukti (benefit/merit) and mukti (liberation).

How does this verse relate to the journey of the soul after death?

By highlighting specific tīrthas associated with post-death merit, the verse implies that proper sacred-place rites and offerings support the preta’s welfare and higher transition toward liberation.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If performing śrāddha or ancestor rites, prioritize sincerity and dharmic conduct, and—where feasible—perform or sponsor offerings connected with revered tīrthas like Prayaga, Haridwar, or Gangasagara.