Shloka 25

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

Devanagari script

कूपे पिण्डादिकं कृत्वा पितॄणामनृणो भवेम् / तथाक्षयवटे श्राद्धी ब्रह्मलोकं नयेत्पितॄन्

Transliteration

kūpe piṇḍādikaṃ kṛtvā pitṝṇāmanṛṇo bhavem / tathākṣayavaṭe śrāddhī brahmalokaṃ nayetpitṝn

Translation

کنویں میں پِنڈ وغیرہ نذر کرنے سے انسان پِتروں کے قرض سے بری ہو جاتا ہے۔ اسی طرح اَکشَی وٹ پر شرادھ کرنے والا پِتروں کو برہما لوک تک پہنچا دیتا ہے۔

Word by Word

• कूपे: in/at the well
• कूपे: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• पिण्डादिकम्: piṇḍa etc. (offerings)
• पिण्डादिकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड-आदि (प्रातिपदिक; पिण्ड + आदि)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Prior action/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive); पूर्वकाल (having done)

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

• अनृणः: free from debt/obligation
• अनृणः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Predicate/क्रियाविशेषण-भाव)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनृण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण (predicate of implied अहम्/वयम्)

• भवेम्: may I become
• भवेम्: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/सम्भावना), उत्तमपुरुष (1st), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Discourse/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकार/समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (thus/also)

• अक्षयवटे: at the Akṣaya-vata (imperishable banyan)
• अक्षयवटे: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्षय-वट (प्रातिपदिक; अक्षय + वट)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• श्राद्धी: a performer of śrāddha
• श्राद्धी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्धिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्तृवाचक (one who performs śrāddha)

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

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

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

Speaker

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

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Svarga

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Performed in connection with śrāddha observances; classically aligned with pitṛ-pakṣa/new-moon contexts though not specified here.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Pitṛ-ṛṇa (debt to ancestors) is discharged through piṇḍa and śrāddha; ritual acts can transfer benefit to Pitṛs, elevating their post-mortem state.

Vedantic Theme: Interconnectedness of karma across generations; śrāddhā and saṃskāra as dharmic supports within saṃsāra (not final mokṣa but welfare).

Application: Perform śrāddha with sincerity, proper procedure, and charity; remember ancestors through ethical living and support of family/community.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual site / sacred tree (vaṭa) within a tīrtha-kṣetra

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Śrāddha-khaṇḍa on piṇḍa-dāna, pitṛ-ṛṇa, and Gayā/Akṣaya-vaṭa efficacy; Garuda Purana Pretakalpa passages on Pitṛ-loka conditions improved by offerings

Characters & Entities

• Pitṛs
• Akṣaya-vaṭa
• Brahmaloka

FAQs

What is the importance of performing piṇḍa-offerings in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

This verse states that performing piṇḍa and related ancestral rites discharges one’s obligation (ṛṇa) toward the Pitṛs, fulfilling a key duty of dharma.

How does this verse explain benefits for the ancestors after death?

It teaches that śrāddha performed at the sacred Akṣaya-vaṭa has exceptional efficacy—so much so that it is said to elevate the Pitṛs to Brahmaloka.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform śrāddha/tarpaṇa with sincerity in accordance with one’s tradition, prioritizing intention, purity, and remembrance of ancestors—seeing it as a duty of gratitude rather than mere formality.