Shloka 14

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

Devanagari script

लोकाः पुण्या गयायां हि श्राद्धिनो ब्रह्मलोकगाः / युष्मान्ये पूजयिष्यन्ति तैरहं पूजितः सदा

Transliteration

lokāḥ puṇyā gayāyāṃ hi śrāddhino brahmalokagāḥ / yuṣmānye pūjayiṣyanti tairahaṃ pūjitaḥ sadā

Translation

แท้จริงแล้วโลกภูมิที่ได้จากการทำศราทธ์ ณ คยาเป็นสิ่งบริสุทธิ์ ผู้ประกอบศราทธ์ที่นั่นย่อมไปสู่พรหมโลก และผู้ใดบูชาพวกท่าน (ปิตฤ) ผู้นั้นย่อมบูชาข้าพเจ้าอยู่เสมอ

Word by Word

• लोकाः: people
• लोकाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• पुण्याः: virtuous/meritorious
• पुण्याः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (लोकाः)

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

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चय/हेतुवाचक (particle: indeed/for)

• श्राद्धिनः: performers of śrāddha
• श्राद्धिनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्धिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘श्राद्धं कुर्वन्ति’ (performers of śrāddha)

• ब्रह्मलोकगाः: going to Brahmaloka
• ब्रह्मलोकगाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्मलोकग (प्रातिपदिक) = ब्रह्मलोक + ग
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (लोकाः/श्राद्धिनः)

• युष्मान्: you (plural)
• युष्मान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• ये: who
• ये: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative pronoun)

• पूजयिष्यन्ति: will worship/honor
• पूजयिष्यन्ति: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• तैः: by them
• तैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; ‘by them’

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• पूजितः: worshiped/honored
• पूजितः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (अहम् इत्यस्य विशेषण)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kala (Time/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; नित्यत्ववाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of frequency)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda, referring to honoring the Pitṛs at Gayā)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Svarga

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: At Gayā during śrāddha observance (general; specific tithi not stated)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śrāddha performed at a powerful tīrtha yields extraordinary puṇya; honoring Pitṛs is simultaneously worship of the Lord (devotion expressed through ancestral duty).

Vedantic Theme: Integration of pravṛtti-dharma (pitṛ-yajña) with bhakti: service to ordained relations as service to Īśvara; loka-phala as stepping-stone toward higher aspiration.

Application: Perform śrāddha with faith and correctness; care for elders/ancestors’ memory; translate pitṛ-sevā into living ethics—support family duties, charity, and remembrance rites.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: tirtha/kṣetra

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa/Śrāddha-kalpa: Gayā-śrāddha praised as highly efficacious; pitṛ-tarpaṇa and piṇḍa-dāna as key acts (broad internal parallel)

Characters & Entities

• Gayā
• Pitṛs (Ancestors)
• Brahmaloka
• Lord Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of Gayā-śrāddha in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that śrāddha performed at Gayā yields especially meritorious results and is linked with attainment of higher realms such as Brahmaloka.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It connects proper ancestral rites (śrāddha) with upliftment to higher lokas, implying that dharmic ritual support to the Pitṛs contributes to auspicious post-death outcomes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Honor ancestors through śrāddha/tarpaṇa with sincerity and ethical living; the verse frames such reverence as aligned with devotion to Vishnu and as spiritually elevating.