Shloka 8

Gayā-māhātmya: Gayāsura, Viṣṇu’s Establishment, and the Fruits of Śrāddha at Gayā

Devanagari script

यज्ञं श्राद्धं पिण्डदानं स्नानादि कुरुते नरः / स स्वर्गं ब्रह्मलोकं च गच्छेन्न नरकं नरः

Transliteration

yajñaṃ śrāddhaṃ piṇḍadānaṃ snānādi kurute naraḥ / sa svargaṃ brahmalokaṃ ca gacchenna narakaṃ naraḥ

Translation

యజ్ఞం, శ్రాద్ధం, పిండదానం, స్నానాది శుద్ధికర్మలను చేసే మనిషి స్వర్గం మరియు బ్రహ్మలోకాన్ని పొందుతాడు; నరకానికి వెళ్లడు.

Word by Word

• यज्ञम्: sacrifice
• यज्ञम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• श्राद्धम्: śrāddha rite
• श्राद्धम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• पिण्डदानम्: offering of piṇḍas
• पिण्डदानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक) + दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: पिण्डस्य दानम्

• स्नानादि: bathing and the like
• स्नानादि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; अव्ययीभाव: स्नानम् आदि यस्य/स्नानादिकम् (etc. beginning with bathing)

• कुरुते: does; performs
• कुरुते: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• नरः: a man
• नरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• स्वर्गम्: heaven
• स्वर्गम्: Karma (Goal as object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ब्रह्मलोकम्: Brahmā’s world
• ब्रह्मलोकम्: Karma (Goal as object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ब्रह्मणः लोकः

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• गच्छेत्: would go; should attain
• गच्छेत्: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negation particle)

• नरकम्: hell
• नरकम्: Karma (Goal as object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नरक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• नरः: a man
• नरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vainateya)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Svarga

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Karmic causality through prescribed rites: yajña, śrāddha, piṇḍa-dāna, and purification yield svarga/brahmaloka and avert naraka.

Vedantic Theme: Gradation of lokas as fruits of karma; ritual purity (śuddhi) as preparatory sattva for higher attainments (still within saṃsāra).

Application: Perform ancestral rites with sincerity; pair external ritual with inner virtues (truthfulness, non-harm, generosity) to stabilize merit.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: tīrtha/kṣetra where rites are performed

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa sections on naraka outcomes for papa and relief through śrāddha (general internal thematic link)

Characters & Entities

• Brahmaloka
• Svarga
• Pitris (implied via śrāddha and piṇḍadāna)

FAQs

What is the importance of śrāddha and piṇḍadāna in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that performing śrāddha and piṇḍadāna—along with other dharmic rites—leads to higher post-death destinations like svarga and brahmaloka, and protects one from falling into naraka.

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

It links one’s afterlife trajectory to karma expressed through prescribed rites: faithful performance of yajña, śrāddha, piṇḍadāna, and purification supports an upward course toward heavenly realms rather than punitive regions.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain regular purificatory discipline (snāna/clean living), support dharmic worship, and when appropriate follow ancestral observances (śrāddha/piṇḍadāna) with sincerity, treating them as ethical and devotional duties rather than mere formality.