Shloka 6

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

Devanagari script

पुनः पुनामहानद्यां श्राद्धी स्वर्गं पितॄन्नयेत् / उत्तरं मानसं गत्वा सिद्धिं प्राप्नोत्यनुत्तमाम्

Transliteration

punaḥ punāmahānadyāṃ śrāddhī svargaṃ pitṝnnayet / uttaraṃ mānasaṃ gatvā siddhiṃ prāpnotyanuttamām

Translation

پونامہا کی عظیم ندی میں بار بار شرادھ کرنے سے شرادھ کرنے والا پِتروں کو سُورگ تک پہنچاتا ہے؛ اور شمالی مانس تیرتھ جا کر بے مثال سِدھی پاتا ہے۔

Word by Word

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriya-viseshana (Adverb/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरावृत्त्यर्थे (again)

• पुना: again
• पुना: Kriya-viseshana (Adverb/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुना (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरावृत्त्यर्थे (again)

• महानद्याम्: in the great river
• महानद्याम्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + नदी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय ("महती नदी")

• श्राद्धी: a performer of śrāddha
• श्राद्धी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्धिन्/श्राद्धी (प्रातिपदिक; श्राद्ध-कर्तृवाचक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• स्वर्गम्: heaven
• स्वर्गम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

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

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

• उत्तरम्: northern, further
• उत्तरम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• मानसम्: Mānasa (lake/region)
• मानसम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मानस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• गत्वा: having gone
• गत्वा: Kriya-viseshana (Prior action/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: गम् (धातु) → गत्वा (कृदन्त, त्वान्त)
• Form: त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund)

• सिद्धिम्: attainment, success
• सिद्धिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• प्राप्नोति: attains
• प्राप्नोति: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + आप् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अनुत्तमाम्: unsurpassed, supreme
• अनुत्तमाम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनुत्तमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (सिद्धिम्-विशेषण)

Speaker

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

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Svarga

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Repeatedly (punar punar) at Punāmahā river; pilgrimage to Uttara Mānasatīrtha

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Abhyāsa (repetition) in śrāddha strengthens karmaphala; tīrtha-yātrā can yield both pitṛ-benefit and personal siddhi.

Vedantic Theme: Karma and upāsanā as supportive disciplines; siddhi here functions as a worldly-spiritual fruition, ideally subordinated to liberation.

Application: If undertaking ancestral rites, consistency matters (repeat with faith); for personal sādhana, choose a disciplined pilgrimage with clear ethical restraints rather than mere tourism.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: river tīrtha; mānasa-tīrtha (sacred lake/mental-satya tīrtha)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: tīrtha-phala catalogues linking specific rivers to pitṛ-gati; Garuda Purana: discussions where repeated śrāddha/tarpaṇa multiplies merit

Characters & Entities

• Pitṛs
• Svarga

FAQs

What is the importance of Śrāddha in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that performing śrāddha—especially at a highly meritorious sacred river—can elevate the Pitṛs, leading them toward svarga, highlighting śrāddha as a direct supportive act for ancestors.

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

Rather than describing punishments or Yama’s realm, the verse emphasizes a positive post-death trajectory: through proper rites (śrāddha) the Pitṛs are aided toward a heavenly state (svarga).

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform śrāddha with sincerity and correct procedure, and if possible undertake pilgrimage to revered tīrthas—treating ancestral duty (pitṛ-kārya) as part of dharma and family spiritual responsibility.