Shloka 6

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

Devanagari script

पुनः पुनामहानद्यां श्राद्धी स्वर्गं पितॄन्नयेत् / उत्तरं मानसं गत्वा सिद्धिं प्राप्नोत्यनुत्तमाम्

Transliteration

punaḥ punāmahānadyāṃ śrāddhī svargaṃ pitṝnnayet / uttaraṃ mānasaṃ gatvā siddhiṃ prāpnotyanuttamām

Translation

เมื่อประกอบศราทธะซ้ำแล้วซ้ำเล่าที่มหานทีปุนามหา ย่อมนำเหล่าปิตฤไปสู่สวรรค์ และเมื่อไปยังมานสตีรถะทางทิศเหนือ ย่อมบรรลุสิทธิอันยอดยิ่ง

Word by Word

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriya-viseshana (Adverb/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरावृत्त्यर्थे (again)

• पुना: again
• पुना: Kriya-viseshana (Adverb/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुना (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरावृत्त्यर्थे (again)

• महानद्याम्: in the great river
• महानद्याम्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + नदी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय ("महती नदी")

• श्राद्धी: a performer of śrāddha
• श्राद्धी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्धिन्/श्राद्धी (प्रातिपदिक; श्राद्ध-कर्तृवाचक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• स्वर्गम्: heaven
• स्वर्गम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

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

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

• उत्तरम्: northern, further
• उत्तरम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• मानसम्: Mānasa (lake/region)
• मानसम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मानस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• गत्वा: having gone
• गत्वा: Kriya-viseshana (Prior action/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: गम् (धातु) → गत्वा (कृदन्त, त्वान्त)
• Form: त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund)

• सिद्धिम्: attainment, success
• सिद्धिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• प्राप्नोति: attains
• प्राप्नोति: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + आप् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अनुत्तमाम्: unsurpassed, supreme
• अनुत्तमाम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनुत्तमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (सिद्धिम्-विशेषण)

Speaker

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

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Svarga

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Repeatedly (punar punar) at Punāmahā river; pilgrimage to Uttara Mānasatīrtha

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Abhyāsa (repetition) in śrāddha strengthens karmaphala; tīrtha-yātrā can yield both pitṛ-benefit and personal siddhi.

Vedantic Theme: Karma and upāsanā as supportive disciplines; siddhi here functions as a worldly-spiritual fruition, ideally subordinated to liberation.

Application: If undertaking ancestral rites, consistency matters (repeat with faith); for personal sādhana, choose a disciplined pilgrimage with clear ethical restraints rather than mere tourism.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: river tīrtha; mānasa-tīrtha (sacred lake/mental-satya tīrtha)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: tīrtha-phala catalogues linking specific rivers to pitṛ-gati; Garuda Purana: discussions where repeated śrāddha/tarpaṇa multiplies merit

Characters & Entities

• Pitṛs
• Svarga

FAQs

What is the importance of Śrāddha in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that performing śrāddha—especially at a highly meritorious sacred river—can elevate the Pitṛs, leading them toward svarga, highlighting śrāddha as a direct supportive act for ancestors.

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

Rather than describing punishments or Yama’s realm, the verse emphasizes a positive post-death trajectory: through proper rites (śrāddha) the Pitṛs are aided toward a heavenly state (svarga).

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform śrāddha with sincerity and correct procedure, and if possible undertake pilgrimage to revered tīrthas—treating ancestral duty (pitṛ-kārya) as part of dharma and family spiritual responsibility.