Shloka 25

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

Devanagari script

कूपे पिण्डादिकं कृत्वा पितॄणामनृणो भवेम् / तथाक्षयवटे श्राद्धी ब्रह्मलोकं नयेत्पितॄन्

Transliteration

kūpe piṇḍādikaṃ kṛtvā pitṝṇāmanṛṇo bhavem / tathākṣayavaṭe śrāddhī brahmalokaṃ nayetpitṝn

Translation

బావిలో పిండాది అర్పణలు చేస్తే మనిషి పితృఋణం నుండి విముక్తుడవుతాడు. అలాగే అక్షయవట వద్ద శ్రాద్ధం చేసే వాడు పితృదేవతలను బ్రహ్మలోకానికి నడిపిస్తాడు.

Word by Word

• कूपे: in/at the well
• कूपे: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• पिण्डादिकम्: piṇḍa etc. (offerings)
• पिण्डादिकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड-आदि (प्रातिपदिक; पिण्ड + आदि)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Prior action/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive); पूर्वकाल (having done)

• पितॄणाम्: of the ancestors
• पितॄणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन

• अनृणः: free from debt/obligation
• अनृणः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Predicate/क्रियाविशेषण-भाव)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनृण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण (predicate of implied अहम्/वयम्)

• भवेम्: may I become
• भवेम्: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/सम्भावना), उत्तमपुरुष (1st), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Discourse/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकार/समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (thus/also)

• अक्षयवटे: at the Akṣaya-vata (imperishable banyan)
• अक्षयवटे: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्षय-वट (प्रातिपदिक; अक्षय + वट)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• श्राद्धी: a performer of śrāddha
• श्राद्धी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्धिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्तृवाचक (one who performs śrāddha)

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

• नयेत्: should lead
• नयेत्: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नी (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/सम्भावना), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• पितॄन्: the ancestors
• पितॄन्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in discourse to Garuḍa/Vinātā-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Svarga

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Performed in connection with śrāddha observances; classically aligned with pitṛ-pakṣa/new-moon contexts though not specified here.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Pitṛ-ṛṇa (debt to ancestors) is discharged through piṇḍa and śrāddha; ritual acts can transfer benefit to Pitṛs, elevating their post-mortem state.

Vedantic Theme: Interconnectedness of karma across generations; śrāddhā and saṃskāra as dharmic supports within saṃsāra (not final mokṣa but welfare).

Application: Perform śrāddha with sincerity, proper procedure, and charity; remember ancestors through ethical living and support of family/community.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual site / sacred tree (vaṭa) within a tīrtha-kṣetra

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Śrāddha-khaṇḍa on piṇḍa-dāna, pitṛ-ṛṇa, and Gayā/Akṣaya-vaṭa efficacy; Garuda Purana Pretakalpa passages on Pitṛ-loka conditions improved by offerings

Characters & Entities

• Pitṛs
• Akṣaya-vaṭa
• Brahmaloka

FAQs

What is the importance of performing piṇḍa-offerings in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

This verse states that performing piṇḍa and related ancestral rites discharges one’s obligation (ṛṇa) toward the Pitṛs, fulfilling a key duty of dharma.

How does this verse explain benefits for the ancestors after death?

It teaches that śrāddha performed at the sacred Akṣaya-vaṭa has exceptional efficacy—so much so that it is said to elevate the Pitṛs to Brahmaloka.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform śrāddha/tarpaṇa with sincerity in accordance with one’s tradition, prioritizing intention, purity, and remembrance of ancestors—seeing it as a duty of gratitude rather than mere formality.