Shloka 19

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

Devanagari script

कूपोदकेन तत्कार्यं पितॄणां दत्तमक्षयम् / तृतीये ऽबह्नि ब्रह्मसदो गत्वा स्नात्वाथ तर्पणम्

Transliteration

kūpodakena tatkāryaṃ pitṝṇāṃ dattamakṣayam / tṛtīye 'bahni brahmasado gatvā snātvātha tarpaṇam

Translation

یہ عمل کنویں کے پانی سے ہی کرنا چاہیے؛ اس سے پِتروں کو دیا ہوا دان اَکشَی (لازوال) ہو جاتا ہے۔ تیسرے دن برہما سَد میں جا کر غسل کرے اور پھر ترپن کرے۔

Word by Word

• कूपोदकेन: with the well-water
• कूपोदकेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कूप (प्रातिपदिक) + उदक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमास (कूपस्य उदकम्)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (demonstrative)

• कार्यम्: is to be done
• कार्यम्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कार्य (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कृत्यप्रत्यय (यत्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विधेय (to be done)

• पितॄणाम्: of/for the ancestors
• पितॄणाम्: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• दत्तम्: given, offered
• दत्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दा (धातु) → दत्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगार्थ (given)

• अक्षयम्: imperishable, inexhaustible
• अक्षयम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अक्षय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तृतीये: on the third
• तृतीये: Adhikarana (Time/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तृतीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; क्रमवाचक (ordinal)

• अह्नि: day
• अह्नि: Adhikarana (Time/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• ब्रह्मसदः: of the Brahma-sadas (Brahmā’s assembly/place)
• ब्रह्मसदः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मसद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमास (ब्रह्मणः सदः = ब्रह्मसदः)

• गत्वा: having gone
• गत्वा: Purvakala (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: गम् (धातु) → गत्वा (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्यय (absolutive/gerund), अव्यय; पूर्वक्रिया

• स्नात्वा: having bathed
• स्नात्वा: Purvakala (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्ना (धातु) → स्नात्वा (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्यय (absolutive/gerund), अव्यय; पूर्वक्रिया

• अथ: then
• अथ: Discourse connector
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (sequence marker)

• तर्पणम्: libation/propitiatory offering (tarpaṇa)
• तर्पणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तर्पण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Third day (tṛtīya ahan): go to Brahmasad, bathe, then perform tarpaṇa; udaka-dāna done with well-water.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Right substance (kūpa-udaka) and right timing (tṛtīya ahan) render pitṛ-dāna imperishable (akṣaya).

Vedantic Theme: Apūrva/adr̥ṣṭa: unseen potency generated by properly performed rites; purity of dravya and niyama governs phala.

Application: Use clean, ritually appropriate water for tarpaṇa/udaka-dāna; observe the sequence and day-count in multi-day śrāddha pilgrimages.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: tīrtha and a named sacred precinct/maṇḍapa-like spot

Cross References

Related Themes: Continuation of Brahmatīrtha śrāddha procedure in 1.84.18–22 (day-wise itinerary and specific loci).

Characters & Entities

• Pitris
• Brahma

FAQs

What is the importance of tarpaṇa for Pitṛs in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that performing tarpaṇa as prescribed (including using well-water) yields akṣaya—an imperishable benefit for the Pitṛs and the performer—highlighting tarpaṇa as a core ancestral rite.

How does this verse relate to post-death rites described in the Garuda Purana?

It places a specific action on a specific timeline—“the third day”—indicating the structured sequence of rites (day-wise observances) that support the deceased and honor the ancestral line through Pitṛ offerings.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If observing ancestral rites, follow a disciplined schedule and offer clean water with intention; even when full ritual settings are unavailable, sincere tarpaṇa performed according to tradition emphasizes continuity of duty (dharma) toward ancestors.