Shloka 37

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

Devanagari script

रामतीर्थे नराः स्नात्वा श्राद्धं कृत्वा प्रभासके / शिलायां प्रेतभावात्स्युर्मुक्ताः पितृगणाः किल

Transliteration

rāmatīrthe narāḥ snātvā śrāddhaṃ kṛtvā prabhāsake / śilāyāṃ pretabhāvātsyurmuktāḥ pitṛgaṇāḥ kila

Translation

人在罗摩圣渡（Rāma-tīrtha）沐浴，又在普罗婆娑（Prabhāsa）行施罗达（śrāddha）；据说在那圣石Śilā之处，堕为饿鬼（preta）之祖父灵众得以解脱。

Word by Word

• रामतीर्थे: at Rāma-tīrtha
• रामतीर्थे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम + तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक); राम (प्रातिपदिक) + तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; locative singular (neuter)

• नराः: men; people
• नराः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; nominative plural (masculine)

• स्नात्वा: having bathed
• स्नात्वा: Kriya-viseshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्ना (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund), पूर्वकाल; absolutive ‘having bathed’

• श्राद्धम्: śrāddha rite
• श्राद्धम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; accusative singular (neuter)

• कृत्वा: having performed
• कृत्वा: Kriya-viseshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund), पूर्वकाल; absolutive ‘having done’

• प्रभासके: at Prabhāsaka (Prabhāsa)
• प्रभासके: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभासक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; locative singular (at Prabhāsaka/Prabhāsa)

• शिलायाम्: on the stone
• शिलायाम्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; locative singular (feminine)

• प्रेतभावात्: from the state of being a preta
• प्रेतभावात्: Hetu/Apadana (Cause/Source/हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेत + भाव (प्रातिपदिक); प्रेत (प्रातिपदिक) + भाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5), एकवचन; ablative singular (masculine)

• स्युः: would be; may become
• स्युः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (सम्भावना/विधान), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; optative, 3rd person plural

• मुक्ताः: liberated; freed
• मुक्ताः: Karta-pradhana (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; nominative plural (masc), predicate adjective

• पितृगणाः: groups of ancestors
• पितृगणाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ + गण (प्रातिपदिक); पितृ (प्रातिपदिक) + गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; nominative plural (masculine)

• किल: indeed; it is said
• किल: Prayojaka (Discourse particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किल (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (खलु-अर्थे/श्रुत्यर्थे); particle indicating report/emphasis

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Tīrtha-sevā (bathing) combined with śrāddha can transform the post-mortem condition of ancestors from preta-state to release.

Vedantic Theme: Compassionate duty (pitṛyajña) as part of dharma that purifies the doer and supports cosmic reciprocity (ṛṇa-traya).

Application: Undertake pilgrimage with disciplined conduct; perform śrāddha/tarpaṇa with correct intention for ancestors, especially when family lines report unresolved deaths.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: tirtha/kshetra/śilā-sthāna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: descriptions of preta-bhāva and remedies via śrāddha, piṇḍa, and tīrtha-śrāddha; Garuda Purana: tīrtha-mahātmyas connected to pitṛ-mukti

Characters & Entities

• Pitṛs (ancestors)
• Pretas

FAQs

What is the importance of performing śrāddha at Prabhāsa in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that śrāddha performed at Prabhāsa, coupled with tīrtha-bathing, is credited with freeing one’s ancestors even if they have fallen into preta-bhāva.

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

It implies an intermediate troubled condition (preta-bhāva) for some departed beings and teaches that properly performed rites at powerful tīrthas can aid their transition and release from that state.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform śrāddha with sincerity (and, when possible, at recognized tīrthas), offer charity and food in the ancestor’s name, and maintain dharmic conduct as supportive acts for ancestral well-being.