Shloka 40

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

Devanagari script

अक्षयं फलमाप्नोति ब्रह्मलोकं नयेत्पितॄन् / जनार्दनस्य हस्ते तु पिण्डं दद्यात्स्वकं नरः

Transliteration

akṣayaṃ phalamāpnoti brahmalokaṃ nayetpitṝn / janārdanasya haste tu piṇḍaṃ dadyātsvakaṃ naraḥ

Translation

此人得不坏之果，并引诸Pitṛ至梵天界。故而，世人当将自己的piṇḍa奉入阇那尔达那（Janārdana，即毗湿奴）之手。

Word by Word

• अक्षयम्: imperishable; inexhaustible
• अक्षयम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अक्षय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; accusative singular (neuter) qualifying फलम्

• फलम्: fruit; result
• फलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; accusative singular (neuter)

• आप्नोति: attains
• आप्नोति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आप् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; present, 3rd person singular; परस्मैपद

• ब्रह्मलोकम्: Brahma-world
• ब्रह्मलोकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्म + लोक (प्रातिपदिक); ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; accusative singular (masculine)

• नयेत्: should lead
• नयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नी (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (सम्भावना/विधान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; optative, 3rd person singular

• पितॄन्: ancestors
• पितॄन्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), बहुवचन; accusative plural (masculine)

• जनार्दनस्य: of Janārdana (Viṣṇu)
• जनार्दनस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनार्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन; genitive singular (masculine)

• हस्ते: in the hand
• हस्ते: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; locative singular (masculine)

• तु: but; indeed
• तु: Prayojaka (Discourse particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अवधारण-निपात; adversative/emphatic particle

• पिण्डम्: piṇḍa offering (rice-ball)
• पिण्डम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; accusative singular (masculine)

• दद्यात्: should give
• दद्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (सम्भावना/विधान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; optative, 3rd person singular

• स्वकम्: one's own
• स्वकम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; accusative singular (masculine) qualifying पिण्डम्

• नरः: a man; person
• नरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; nominative singular (masculine)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (Janārdana) speaking to Garuda (Vinātā-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Svarga

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Offering to Viṣṇu (Janārdana) sanctifies śrāddha and yields akṣaya-phala, elevating Pitṛs to Brahmaloka—devotion empowers ritual merit.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara-arpana (dedication to the Lord) transforms karma into purifying action; akṣaya-phala hints at divine grace surpassing ordinary merit.

Application: Perform ancestral offerings with explicit Viṣṇu-samarpaṇa (dedication), integrating remembrance with devotion and ethical living.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: repeated emphasis that offerings dedicated to Viṣṇu become akṣaya; Viṣṇu as ultimate refuge for pretas and pitṛs; Garuda Purana: Janārdana/Vāsudeva nāma-mahātmyas in devotional sections

Characters & Entities

• Janardana (Vishnu)
• Pitris
• Brahmaloka (Brahma)

FAQs

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

This verse states that offering piṇḍa as prescribed yields akṣaya (imperishable) merit and aids the Pitṛs’ auspicious progress, indicating piṇḍa-dāna as a key śrāddha act for ancestor welfare.

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

By linking piṇḍa-offering with “leading the Pitṛs to Brahmaloka,” the verse frames śrāddha as a supportive rite that improves ancestral gati (post-death destination) through Viṣṇu-centered offering.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform śrāddha/piṇḍa-dāna with devotion and ethical living (dharma), keeping the rite Viṣṇu-centered (Janārdana-smaraṇa) and dedicated to ancestor upliftment.