Shloka 21

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

Devanagari script

एतेन किं न पर्याप्तं नॄणां सुकृतकारिणाम् / ब्रह्मलोकं प्रयान्तीह पुरुषा एकविंशतिः

Transliteration

etena kiṃ na paryāptaṃ nṝṇāṃ sukṛtakāriṇām / brahmalokaṃ prayāntīha puruṣā ekaviṃśatiḥ

Translation

Ano pa ang kakailanganin para sa mga taong gumagawa ng kabutihang may bisa? Dito, dalawampu’t isang gayong tao ang nagtutungo sa kaharian ni Brahmā (Brahmaloka).

Word by Word

• एतेन: by this (means)
• एतेन: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• किम्: what
• किम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक सर्वनाम (interrogative pronoun)

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

• पर्याप्तम्: sufficient
• पर्याप्तम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Predicate/क्रियाविशेषण-भाव)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर्याप्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण (predicate adjective)

• नॄणाम्: of men
• नॄणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन

• सुकृतकारिणाम्: of those who do good deeds
• सुकृतकारिणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive qualifier/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु-कृत-कारिन् (प्रातिपदिक; सु + कृत + कारिन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying नॄणाम्)

• ब्रह्मलोकम्: Brahma-world
• ब्रह्मलोकम्: Karma (Goal/Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्म-लोक (प्रातिपदिक; ब्रह्मन् + लोक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• प्रयान्ति: go, depart
• प्रयान्ति: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-या (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• इह: here
• इह: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (adverb of place)

• पुरुषाः: men
• पुरुषाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• एकविंशतिः: twenty-one
• एकविंशतिः: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एकविंशति (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; संख्यावाचक विशेषण (agreeing with पुरुषाः as count)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Svarga

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Puṇya (meritorious action) yields higher-loka attainment; the described act is ‘sufficient’ for the virtuous.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala and loka-gati (destinations shaped by action); relative superiority of heavenly/celestial attainments within saṃsāra.

Application: Cultivate consistent meritorious conduct and prescribed sacred acts with faith, understanding their karmic fruition.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: loka (realm)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa/Śrāddha-khaṇḍa passages on Gayā, Phalgu, Akṣayavaṭa and Brahmaloka-phala; Garuda Purana discussions of puṇya leading to higher lokas

Characters & Entities

• Brahmaloka
• Brahma

FAQs

What is the importance of sukrita (merit) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes that meritorious conduct is itself “sufficient,” because it leads qualified persons to an exalted destination—Brahmaloka.

How does this verse explain the soul’s path after death?

It presents a results-based karmic trajectory: those established in good deeds are said to attain a higher realm (Brahmaloka), indicating uplift through dharmic merit rather than descent into punitive afterlife states.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Prioritize consistent ethical actions, charity, truthfulness, and duty—building sukrita—since the text frames such merit as a complete and effective spiritual support.