Shloka 37

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

Devanagari script

सर्वे मुक्ता विशालो ऽपि सपुत्रो ऽभुच्च पिण्डदः / विशालायां विशालो ऽभूद्राजपुत्रोब्रवीद्द्विजान्

Transliteration

sarve muktā viśālo 'pi saputro 'bhucca piṇḍadaḥ / viśālāyāṃ viśālo 'bhūdrājaputrobravīddvijān

Translation

Naligtas ang lahat; at si Viśāla rin—kasama ang kanyang anak—ay naging tapat na tagapaghandog ng piṇḍa ayon sa dharma. Sa lungsod ng Viśālā, ang prinsipe na si Viśāla ay nagsalita sa mga dvija (mga brāhmaṇa).

Word by Word

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), बहुवचन

• मुक्ताः: freed/liberated
• मुक्ताः: Vidhaya (Predicate qualifier/विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुच् (धातु) + क्त
• Form: क्त-कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• विशालः: Viśāla
• विशालः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विशाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन; नाम (proper name)

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), समुच्चय/अपि-भाव

• सपुत्रः: together with (his) son
• सपुत्रः: Vidhaya (Predicate qualifier/विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समास: पुत्रेण सह (नञ्-रहित सहार्थक-तत्पुरुष)

• अभूत्: became/was
• अभूत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• पिण्डदः: giver of piṇḍa (one who offers funeral oblations)
• पिण्डदः: Vidhaya (Predicate noun/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड + द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समास: पिण्डं ददाति इति (उपपद-तत्पुरुष)

• विशालायाम्: in Viśālā
• विशालायाम्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विशाला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; स्थाननाम

• विशालः: Viśāla
• विशालः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विशाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

• अभूत्: became/was
• अभूत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• राजपुत्रः: the king’s son/prince
• राजपुत्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् + पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन; समास: राज्ञः पुत्रः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• अब्रवीत्: said
• अब्रवीत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• द्विजान्: to the Brahmins (twice-born)
• द्विजान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), बहुवचन

Speaker

Narrator (within the Vishnu–Garuda dialogue frame)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Svarga

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Post-completion continuation of śrāddha culture; implied ongoing observance after the decisive Gayā rite

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Proper piṇḍa-dāna leads to liberation (mukti) of the concerned departed and establishes the performer as a righteous upholder of pitṛ-dharma; dharma is confirmed through dialogue with brāhmaṇas.

Vedantic Theme: Karma purified into dharmic steadiness; social order (brāhmaṇa guidance) supports right action and its stabilizing fruits.

Application: After completing key rites, continue regular śrāddha/ancestral remembrance; consult learned guides for ongoing observances and community-aligned dharma.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: city (nagara)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana accounts where successful śrāddha results in preta-mukti and family welfare; Passages on the merit of being ‘piṇḍada’ (one who offers piṇḍa properly)

Characters & Entities

• Viśāla
• Viśālā
• Dvijas (Brāhmaṇas)
• Piṇḍa (piṇḍa-dāna/śrāddha)

FAQs

What is the importance of piṇḍa-dāna in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights piṇḍa-dāna as a dharmic act associated with spiritual welfare and liberation, presenting Viśāla as one who becomes a proper performer of the rite.

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

Indirectly: by linking liberation with correct ritual duty (piṇḍa-dāna), it reflects the Garuda Purana theme that post-death welfare is supported by prescribed rites performed by the living.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Honor ancestors through sincere śrāddha/commemorative rites according to one’s tradition, and seek guidance from qualified priests/teachers (dvijas) to keep practice aligned with dharma.