Shloka 28

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

Devanagari script

श्राद्धी रामह्रदे ब्रह्मलोकं पितृकुलं नयेत् / उत्तरे मानसे श्राद्धी न भूयो जायते नरः

Transliteration

śrāddhī rāmahrade brahmalokaṃ pitṛkulaṃ nayet / uttare mānase śrāddhī na bhūyo jāyate naraḥ

Translation

రామహ్రదంలో శ్రాద్ధం చేసినవాడు పితృకులాన్ని బ్రహ్మలోకానికి నడిపిస్తాడు; ఉత్తర మానస సరస్సులో శ్రాద్ధం చేసినవాడు మళ్లీ మానవ జన్మ పొందడు।

Word by Word

• श्राद्धी: the śrāddha-performer
• श्राद्धी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्धिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्ता

• रामह्रदे: at Rāma-hrada (Rama’s lake)
• रामह्रदे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रामह्रद (प्रातिपदिक) = राम + ह्रद
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; अधिकरण

• ब्रह्मलोकं: to Brahma-loka
• ब्रह्मलोकं: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मलोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म

• पितृकुलं: the lineage of ancestors
• पितृकुलं: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृकुल (प्रातिपदिक) = पितृ + कुल
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म (whom/what is led)

• नयेत्: should lead
• नयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नी (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• उत्तरे: in the northern (part)
• उत्तरे: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; दिशावाचक विशेषण (in the north)

• मानसे: at Mānasa (lake/region)
• मानसे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मानस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; अधिकरण (at Mānasa)

• श्राद्धी: the śrāddha-performer
• श्राद्धी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्धिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्ता

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negation particle)

• भूयः: again
• भूयः: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भूयस्/भूयः (अव्यय)
• Form: पुनरर्थक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: again)

• जायते: is born
• जायते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: लट्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

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

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Svarga

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Tīrtha-śrāddha at the specified lakes; auspicious on pitṛ-days (implied).

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Merit from tīrtha-śrāddha can elevate pitṛs and alter the performer’s rebirth trajectory; ‘not born again as human’ implies either higher loka-birth or movement toward liberation depending on interpretive frame.

Vedantic Theme: Saṁsāra and gati-bheda: karmic results can shift embodiment; ultimate cessation requires deeper realization, but tīrtha-dharma is presented as powerful upāya.

Application: If undertaking śrāddha-yātrā, prioritize sites with strong pitṛ-mahātmyam; combine ritual with nāma-japa and sattvic living to align merit with inner transformation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: sacred lake/pond (hrada, mānasa)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: statements on apunarbhava linked to Viṣṇu-bhakti and sacred acts; śrāddha at special tīrthas; Garuda Purana: pitṛ-kula-tāraṇa claims in tīrtha-śrāddha lists

Characters & Entities

• Pitṛs (ancestors)
• Brahmā (via Brahma-loka)
• Mānasa (sacred lake)
• Rāma-hrada (tīrtha)

FAQs

What is the importance of performing Śrāddha at tīrthas in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that performing Śrāddha at specific sacred places (like Rāma-hrada and Mānasā) yields exceptional results—uplifting one’s pitṛ-lineage to higher realms and even granting freedom from repeated human birth.

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

It links śrāddha-karma with post-death welfare: the rite is portrayed as spiritually efficacious enough to elevate the pitṛ-kula toward Brahma-loka, indicating a trajectory from ancestral states toward higher loka attainment through ritual merit.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform Śrāddha with sincerity, correct procedure, and offerings for the Pitṛs; when possible, do it at recognized tīrthas (or with tīrtha-water and proper sankalpa), keeping the intent of gratitude, dharma, and lineage welfare central.