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Shloka 34

The Greatness of Gayā

Gayā-Māhātmya

अतः परोऽयं जनकः परोऽस्य तत्कृष्णवक्त्रावपि दीर्घकालम् । अहं च शुद्धेन निजेन कर्मणा शक्रासनं प्राप्य सुदुर्लभं तकत् ॥ ३४ ॥

ataḥ paro'yaṃ janakaḥ paro'sya tatkṛṣṇavaktrāvapi dīrghakālam | ahaṃ ca śuddhena nijena karmaṇā śakrāsanaṃ prāpya sudurlabhaṃ takat || 34 ||

فلذلك كان هذا الأبُ (جَنَكَ) أسمى، وهو أسمى من ذاك أيضًا؛ بل حتى بين من طال مقامهم أمام وجه الربّ كريشنا ذي اللون الداكن. وأنا كذلك، بفضل أعمالي التي تطهّرت، نلتُ مقعد شَكْرا (إندرا)—وهو مقامٌ بالغُ العُسر في نيله.

ataḥtherefore
ataḥ:
Hetu (हेतु)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootataḥ (अव्यय)
FormAblatival particle/adverb
paraḥbeyond / further
paraḥ:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootpara (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative (1st), Singular
ayamthis (one)
ayam:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootidam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
janakaḥfather
janakaḥ:
Pratijñā (समानााधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootjanaka (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
paraḥfurther / subsequent
paraḥ:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootpara (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
asyaof him
asya:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
TypeNoun
Rootidam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine/Neuter, Genitive (6th), Singular
tatof that (one)
tat:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
TypeNoun
Roottad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Genitive (6th), Singular (or indeclinable demonstrative used as 'that'); here taken as genitive with vaktra
kṛṣṇa-vaktrāthe two faces/mouths of Kṛṣṇa
kṛṣṇa-vaktrā:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootkṛṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + vaktra (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Nominative/Accusative, Dual; तत्पुरुषः (kṛṣṇasya vaktram)
apialso
api:
Nipāta (निपात)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootapi (अव्यय)
FormParticle
dīrgha-kālamfor a long time
dīrgha-kālam:
Kāla (काल)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootdīrgha (प्रातिपदिक) + kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
FormAccusative used adverbially (कालाधिकरणे द्वितीया); कर्मधारयः (dīrghaḥ kālaḥ)
ahamI
aham:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootasmad (अस्मद् सर्वनाम)
FormNominative, Singular
caand
ca:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
FormConjunction
śuddhenaby pure
śuddhena:
Karana (करण)
TypeAdjective
Rootśuddha (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter/Masculine, Instrumental (3rd), Singular; agreeing with karmaṇā (neuter) in sense
nijenaby my own
nijena:
Karana (करण)
TypeAdjective
Rootnija (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter/Masculine, Instrumental, Singular; agreeing with karmaṇā
karmaṇāby (my) deed
karmaṇā:
Karana (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootkarman (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Instrumental (3rd), Singular
śakra-āsanamIndra's throne
śakra-āsanam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootśakra (प्रातिपदिक) + āsana (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; तत्पुरुषः (śakrasya āsanam)
prāpyahaving attained
prāpya:
Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootpra-√āp (आप् धातु)
FormAbsolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त; ल्यप्), indeclinable verbal form
su-durlabhamvery hard to obtain
su-durlabham:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootsu (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + durlabha (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular; कर्मधारयः (su + durlabha) qualifying śakrāsanam
tadthat
tad:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Roottad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; referring to śakrāsanam; text reads 'takat'—emended to 'tad'

Unclear from single-verse input (likely a narrator/character within the Tirtha-Mahatmya dialogue of Book 2).

Vrata: none

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

J
Janaka
K
Kṛṣṇa
Ś
Śakra (Indra)

FAQs

It contrasts worldly exaltation (Indra’s throne) with a higher spiritual excellence attributed to Janaka—implying that purified conduct and realized wisdom can surpass even celestial ranks and long-standing proximity to divine presence.

By referencing being “before Kṛṣṇa’s face” for a long time, it suggests that mere proximity or duration is not the sole measure; inner purity and right orientation (which bhakti demands) are what make one truly ‘superior’ in the Lord’s economy.

The practical takeaway aligns with Dharma-śāstra reasoning rather than a specific Vedāṅga: karma-phala logic—purified action (śuddha-karma) yields specific results (like svarga/Indra-status), while higher discernment can indicate superiority beyond ritual reward.