Shloka 14

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

Devanagari script

तेषां पिण्डप्रदानार्थमागतो ऽस्मि गयामिमाम् / कृतपिण्डः फल्गुतीर्थे पश्यैद्देवं पितामहम्

Transliteration

teṣāṃ piṇḍapradānārthamāgato 'smi gayāmimām / kṛtapiṇḍaḥ phalgutīrthe paśyaiddevaṃ pitāmaham

Translation

ان کے لیے پِنڈ دان کرنے کی خاطر میں اس گیا میں آیا ہوں۔ فلگو تیرتھ پر پِنڈ دان کر کے دیو پِتامہ (برہما) کے درشن کرنے چاہییں۔

Word by Word

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी (Genitive, 6th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• पिण्ड-प्रदान-अर्थम्: for the purpose of offering piṇḍa
• पिण्ड-प्रदान-अर्थम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रदान (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन; प्रयोजनवाचक (purpose)

• आगतः: come
• आगतः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ√गम् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (Past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (with asmi)

• अस्मि: I am
• अस्मि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन (Singular)

• गयाम्: Gaya (place)
• गयाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• इमाम्: this
• इमाम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: सर्वनाम, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; निर्देशक विशेषण (demonstrative)

• कृत-पिण्डः: having offered piṇḍa
• कृत-पिण्डः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत (कृ धातु + क्त) + पिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कृतपिण्डकर्मा (one who has performed piṇḍa-offering)

• फल्गु-तीर्थे: at Phalgu-tirtha
• फल्गु-तीर्थे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल्गु (प्रातिपदिक) + तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative, 7th), एकवचन

• पश्येत्: should see
• पश्येत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पश् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• देवम्: the god
• देवम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन

• पितामहम्: grandfather/forefather
• पितामहम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितामह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Tīrtha-śrāddha at Gayā; piṇḍa-dāna at Phalgu-tīrtha (day-structured sequence implied).

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Pilgrimage (tīrtha-yātrā) and piṇḍa-dāna at Gayā are efficacious means to discharge pitṛ-ṛṇa and secure ancestral welfare.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-kāṇḍa as purificatory support (citta-śuddhi) for higher pursuits; sacred geography as a conduit for dharmic merit.

Application: If undertaking śrāddha at Gayā, perform piṇḍa-dāna specifically at Phalgu-tīrtha per vidhi, and complete the yātrā with prescribed darśanas.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: tirtha

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.84.15–17 (Gadādhara darśana; multi-day procedure; Dharmāraṇya/Mataṅga-vāpī).

Characters & Entities

• Gaya
• Phalgu Tirtha
• Pitamah (Brahma)
• Pitris (implied)

FAQs

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

This verse highlights Gaya as a प्रमुख तीर्थ for offering piṇḍas to one’s ancestors (pitṛs), indicating that the rite performed there is especially efficacious for pitṛ-satisfaction and ancestral welfare.

How does this verse connect ritual action with spiritual vision?

It links completing the piṇḍa-offering at Phalgu tīrtha with the instruction to behold the divine Pitāmaha (Brahmā), suggesting that proper pitṛ-karma at a sacred site supports elevated spiritual orientation and devotion.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform śrāddha and piṇḍa-offerings with sincerity—especially at recognized tīrthas when possible—and cultivate remembrance and gratitude toward ancestors as part of dharma.