Shloka 6

Devanagari script

अतो गदाधरो विष्णुर्गयायां मुक्तिदः स्थितः / तस्य देहो लिङ्गरूपी स्थितः शुद्धे पितामहः

Transliteration

ato gadādharo viṣṇurgayāyāṃ muktidaḥ sthitaḥ / tasya deho liṅgarūpī sthitaḥ śuddhe pitāmahaḥ

Translation

అందువల్ల గదాధారి విష్ణువు గయాలో ముక్తిదాతగా నిలిచియున్నాడు. అక్కడ ఆయన దేహం లింగరూపంగా ప్రతిష్ఠితమై ఉంది; ఆ పవిత్రస్థలంలో పితామహ బ్రహ్మ కూడా స్థితుడై ఉన్నాడు.

Word by Word

• अतः: therefore
• अतः: Sambandha (Discourse connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतः (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतौ/तस्मात्-अर्थे अव्यय (therefore/from that)

• गदाधरः: the mace-bearer
• गदाधरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गदा (प्रातिपदिक) + धर (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष: गदां धरति इति

• विष्णुः: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• गयायाम्: in Gayā
• गयायाम्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• मुक्तिदः: giver of liberation
• मुक्तिदः: Karta (Subject complement/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + द (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष: मुक्तिं ददाति इति

• स्थितः: is stationed; stands
• स्थितः: Kriya (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भावे/स्थितिवाचक

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (Possessor/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• देहः: body
• देहः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• लिङ्गरूपी: having the form of a liṅga
• लिङ्गरूपी: Visheshana (Adjective of देहः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + रूपिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: लिङ्गरूपः यस्य/लिङ्गरूपेण (having the form of a liṅga)

• स्थितः: is established
• स्थितः: Kriya (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• शुद्धे: in the pure (place)
• शुद्धे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying an implied स्थान/क्षेत्र)

• पितामहः: Pitāmaha (Brahmā)
• पितामहः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितामह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Tīrtha as a locus where Viṣṇu’s grace grants mukti; sacred presence can be accessed through established forms (arcā/linga-rūpa).

Vedantic Theme: Saguna-brahman accessibility (arcāvatāra) as a compassionate means (upāya) toward liberation; tīrtha as kṣetra of intensified sattva.

Application: Undertake Gayā pilgrimage with śraddhā; combine ritual acts with Viṣṇu-smaraṇa and ethical living for inner purification.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: tīrtha/pilgrimage city

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.82.8 (śrāddha/pinda leads to higher worlds); Garuda Purana 1.82.9 (Brahmā’s yajña at Gayā)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Gayā
• Brahmā (Pitāmaha)

FAQs

What is the importance of Gayā in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents Gayā as a supreme tīrtha where Vishnu is specially present as “muktida” (giver of liberation), making it central for śrāddha and pinda-dāna performed for ancestors.

How does this verse relate to liberation (moksha) and ancestral rites?

By stating that Vishnu abides at Gayā as the bestower of liberation, it frames Gayā-rites as spiritually potent—aimed at elevating the departed and supporting release from binding conditions.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Approach śrāddha, tarpaṇa, and remembrance of ancestors with sincerity, and if possible perform or sponsor Gayā-related rites in a disciplined, dharmic manner while cultivating devotion to Vishnu.