Shloka 26

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

Devanagari script

हंसतीर्थे नरः स्नात्वा सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते / कोटितीथ गयालोले वैतरण्यां च गोमके

Transliteration

haṃsatīrthe naraḥ snātvā sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate / koṭitītha gayālole vaitaraṇyāṃ ca gomake

Translation

人在哈ṁ萨圣渡（Haṁsa-tīrtha）沐浴，便能解脱一切罪垢；同样，在科蒂圣渡（Koṭi-tīrtha）、伽耶（Gayā）的圣水、毗多罗尼河（Vaitaraṇī）以及戈摩迦（Gomaka）沐浴，也得此清净功德。

Word by Word

• हंसतीर्थे: at Haṃsa-tīrtha
• हंसतीर्थे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हंसतीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) = हंस + तीर्थ
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative of place)

• नरः: a man
• नरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्तृपद

• स्नात्वा: having bathed
• स्नात्वा: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्ना (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive); पूर्वक्रिया ‘having bathed’

• सर्वपापैः: from all sins
• सर्वपापैः: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्वपाप (प्रातिपदिक) = सर्व + पाप
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; अपादानार्थे/वियोग (separation)

• प्रमुच्यते: is freed
• प्रमुच्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + मुच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive)

• कोटितीथ: Koṭi-tīrtha
• कोटितीथ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोटितीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) = कोटि + तीर्थ
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; नाम (tīrtha-name)

• गयालोले: at Gayā-lola (place-name)
• गयालोले: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गयालोल (प्रातिपदिक) = गया + लोल
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (स्थाननाम), सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण

• वैतरण्यां: in/at Vaitaraṇī
• वैतरण्यां: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैतरणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• गोमके: at Gomaka (place-name)
• गोमके: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोमक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (स्थाननाम), सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Tīrtha-snāna as prāyaścitta that attenuates pāpa and restores ritual-moral purity.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-kṣaya and antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi as preparatory ground for higher pursuit (bhakti/jñāna).

Application: Undertake tīrtha-yātrā with disciplined conduct (satya, ahiṁsā, śauca), bathe with sankalpa, and pair snāna with dāna/japa for sustained ethical reform.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: tīrtha (sacred ford), river/ghāṭa, sacred waters

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Preta/Śrāddha sections): repeated tīrtha-mahātmyas linked to pitṛ-kārya and pāpa-kṣaya; Garuda Purana: Gayā-śrāddha and tīrtha lists in śrāddha-prakaraṇa contexts

Characters & Entities

• Haṁsa-tīrtha
• Koṭi-tīrtha
• Gayā
• Vaitaraṇī
• Gomaka

FAQs

What is the importance of tīrtha-snān (bathing at sacred fords) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents tīrtha-snān as a purificatory act that destroys accumulated pāpa (sin), highlighting specific revered tīrthas known for granting spiritual cleansing.

How does this verse connect to Garuda Purana teachings on afterlife and karma?

By emphasizing removal of pāpa through sacred rites, it aligns with the text’s broader karma framework: reducing sin lessens suffering in Yama’s realm and supports a more auspicious post-death journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat pilgrimage and ritual bathing as supports for ethical reform—combine devotion and purification practices with daily dharma (truthfulness, non-harm, charity) to reduce harmful karmic patterns.