Shloka 43

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

Devanagari script

गयाशीर्षे ऽक्षयवटे पितॄणां दत्तमक्षयम् / धर्मारण्यं धर्मपृष्ठं धेनुकारण्यमेव च

Transliteration

gayāśīrṣe 'kṣayavaṭe pitṝṇāṃ dattamakṣayam / dharmāraṇyaṃ dharmapṛṣṭhaṃ dhenukāraṇyameva ca

Translation

ที่คยา-ศีรษะ ณ อักษยวฏะ สิ่งที่ถวายแด่ปิตฤย่อมเป็นอักษัยไม่เสื่อมสูญ เช่นเดียวกับธรรมารัณยะ ธรรมปฤษฐะ และธेनุการัณยะซึ่งเป็นสถานศักดิ์สิทธิ์

Word by Word

• gayāśīrṣe: at Gayā-śīrṣa (the head/top of Gayā)
• gayāśīrṣe: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gayā-śīrṣa (प्रातिपदिक; गया + शीर्ष)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (स्थलनाम), सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (gayāyāḥ śīrṣam)

• akṣayavaṭe: at the imperishable banyan (Akṣayavaṭa)
• akṣayavaṭe: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: akṣaya-vaṭa (प्रातिपदिक; अक्षय + वट)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (akṣayaḥ vaṭaḥ)

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

• dattam: given/offered
• dattam: Karta (Predicate/qualifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dā (दा) + datta (कृत-प्रत्यय; क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• akṣayam: imperishable
• akṣayam: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: akṣaya (प्रातिपदिक; a- + kṣaya)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying implied offering/result)

• dharmāraṇyam: Dharmāraṇya
• dharmāraṇyam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma-āraṇya (प्रातिपदिक; धर्म + आरण्य)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (स्थलनाम), प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (dharma-sambandhi āraṇyam)

• dharmapṛṣṭham: Dharmapṛṣṭha
• dharmapṛṣṭham: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma-pṛṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक; धर्म + पृष्ठ)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (स्थलनाम), प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• dhenukāraṇyam: Dhenukāraṇya
• dhenukāraṇyam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhenu-kāraṇya (प्रातिपदिक; धेनु + कारण्य)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (स्थलनाम), प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (dhenu-sambandhi kāraṇyam)

• eva: indeed/only
• eva: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphatic particle)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-बोधक (conjunction)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Svarga

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Certain tīrthas render śrāddha-dāna ‘akṣaya’ (inexhaustible), implying intensified karma-phala through sacred context.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala’s durability (akṣayatva) within saṃsāra; sacred supports (ālambana) for dharmic action.

Application: When performing ancestral offerings, choose auspicious places (or consecrate the space) and include acts of dāna to stabilize merit.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: tīrtha-kṣetra and sacred groves/forests

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.83: repeated ‘akṣaya’ motif around Gayā and Akṣaya-vaṭa (contextual)

Characters & Entities

• Pitṛs
• Gayā
• Akṣaya-vaṭa
• Dharmāraṇya
• Dharmapṛṣṭha
• Dhenukāraṇya

FAQs

What is the importance of Gayā and Akṣaya-vaṭa in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that offerings made to the Pitṛs at Gayā—especially at the Akṣaya-vaṭa—become akṣaya, meaning their spiritual fruit is considered inexhaustible.

How does this verse relate to śrāddha and pinda-dāna for ancestors?

By highlighting specific tīrthas where Pitṛ-offerings yield enduring results, the verse supports the Garuda Purana’s broader emphasis on śrāddha/pinda-dāna as effective rites for ancestral welfare.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If one performs ancestral rites, do them with sincerity and proper procedure; and when possible, choose traditionally revered tīrthas (like Gayā) while also maintaining regular remembrance and charity in the ancestors’ name.