Shloka 22

Gayā-yātrā-vidhi: Multi-day Śrāddha Route, Pitṛ-devatās, and Akṣaya Merit at Gayā

Devanagari script

फल्गुतीर्थे चतुर्थे ऽहिनि स्नात्वा देवादितर्पणम् / कृत्वा श्राद्धङ्गयाशीर्षे कुर्याद्रुद्रपदादिषु

Transliteration

phalgutīrthe caturthe 'hini snātvā devāditarpaṇam / kṛtvā śrāddhaṅgayāśīrṣe kuryādrudrapadādiṣu

Translation

నాల్గవ రోజున ఫల్గుతీర్థంలో స్నానం చేసి దేవాదులకు తర్పణం చేయాలి. తరువాత గయాశీర్షంలో శ్రాద్ధం చేయాలి; అలాగే రుద్రపదాది తీర్థస్థలాలలో కూడా చేయాలి.

Word by Word

• फल्गुतीर्थे: at Phalgu-tīrtha
• फल्गुतीर्थे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल्गुतीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (फल्गोः तीर्थम्)

• चतुर्थे: on the fourth
• चतुर्थे: Adhikarana (Time/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; क्रमवाचक

• अह्नि: day
• अह्नि: Adhikarana (Time/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• स्नात्वा: having bathed
• स्नात्वा: Purvakala (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्ना (धातु) → स्नात्वा (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्यय (absolutive), अव्यय; पूर्वक्रिया

• देवादितर्पणम्: tarpaṇa for the gods and others
• देवादितर्पणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक) + तर्पण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (देवाः आदयः येषां तेषां तर्पणम्)

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Purvakala (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कृत्वा (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्यय (absolutive), अव्यय; पूर्वक्रिया

• श्राद्धङ्गयाशीर्षे: at the ‘ya’-head (principal part) of the śrāddha-limb
• श्राद्धङ्गयाशीर्षे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + य (प्रातिपदिक) + शीर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (श्राद्धस्य अङ्गम् ‘य’ इति, तस्य शीर्षे/प्रधाने)

• कुर्यात्: should perform
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• रुद्रपदादिषु: in/at Rudra-pada and other (places)
• रुद्रपदादिषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्रपद (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (रुद्रपदानि आदीनि येषु तेषु)

Speaker

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

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Fourth day: bathe at Phalgu-tīrtha, perform deva-ādi tarpaṇa, then perform śrāddha at Gayā-śīrṣa and at Rudra-pada and other stations.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Day-wise tīrtha observance: snāna, deva-ādi tarpaṇa, then śrāddha at the most potent nodes of the kṣetra.

Vedantic Theme: Purification and gratitude (to devas and pitṛs) as preparatory disciplines; sacred geography as a support for dharma and inner refinement.

Application: If undertaking Gayā śrāddha, follow the traditional sequence: bathe at Phalgu, offer tarpaṇa to devas/others, then perform śrāddha at Gayā-śīrṣa and associated stations like Rudra-pada.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: river/tīrtha and named sacred stations within the Gayā kṣetra circuit

Cross References

Related Themes: Gayā/Phalgu śrāddha itinerary continues the Brahmatīrtha sequence (1.84.18–22) and aligns with broader Garuḍa Purāṇa śrāddha-kāṇḍa prescriptions.

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Pitris
• Phalgu Tirtha
• Gaya-shirsha
• Rudrapada

FAQs

What is the importance of Phalgu-tīrtha and Gayā in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents Phalgu-tīrtha bathing and Gayā-śīrṣa śrāddha as especially potent stations for completing tarpaṇa and śrāddha, highlighting Gayā as a prime locus for Pitṛ-related rites.

Does this verse describe the soul’s journey after death?

Indirectly: it focuses on the ritual supports (tarpaṇa and śrāddha at key tīrthas) believed to aid the departed and fulfill obligations to Devas and Pitṛs, which in the broader Garuda Purana framework relates to post-death welfare.

What is a practical application of this teaching today?

If undertaking śrāddha or pitṛ-kārya, follow a disciplined sequence—purificatory bath, tarpaṇa to Devas (and related beings), then śrāddha at an appropriate sacred place (or with proper substitutes if travel is not possible), emphasizing sincerity and correct procedure.