Shloka 51

The Greatness of Gayā

Gayā-Māhātmya

Devanagari script

पायसं खङ्गमांसं च पुत्रैर्दत्तं पितृक्षयं । कृष्णो लोहस्तथा छाग आनंत्याय प्रकल्पते ॥ ५१ ॥

Transliteration

pāyasaṃ khaṅgamāṃsaṃ ca putrairdattaṃ pitṛkṣayaṃ | kṛṣṇo lohastathā chāga ānaṃtyāya prakalpate || 51 ||

Translation

إنَّ البايَسَة (pāyasa) ولحم طائر الخَنْغَة (khaṅga)، إذا قدّمهما الأبناء لإرضاء البِتْرِ (Pitṛ، الآباء الأسلاف)، قيل إنهما يمنحان ثوابًا لا ينفد؛ وكذلك التصدّق بالحديد الأسود وبماعز يُعلَن أنه يفضي إلى جزاءٍ لا نهاية له.

Word by Word

• पायसम्: rice pudding (payasa)
• पायसम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पायस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (contextually object)

• खङ्गमांसम्: meat of the khaṅga-bird
• खङ्गमांसम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खङ्ग-मांस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (खङ्गस्य मांसम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (contextually object)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• पुत्रैः: by the sons
• पुत्रैः: Kartṛ (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• दत्तम्: given/offered
• दत्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (agreeing with offerings)

• पितृक्षयम्: destruction/cessation of (suffering for) the ancestors
• पितृक्षयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ-क्षय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (पितॄणां क्षयः/क्षयम्); पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कृष्णः: black (thing/animal)
• कृष्णः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• लोहः: iron
• लोहः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/तुल्यत्व (adverb: likewise)

• छागः: goat
• छागः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: छाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• आनंत्याय: for endless merit/limitlessness
• आनंत्याय: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आनन्त्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी विभक्ति (Dative/4th), एकवचन

• प्रकल्पते: is conducive/serves
• प्रकल्पते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र+कॢप् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Sūta (narrating Purāṇic instruction on śrāddha/pitṛ-offerings within the Uttara-bhāga tīrtha-mahātmya frame)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Pitrs

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in Narada Purana?

It teaches that specific śrāddha offerings and dānas, when performed properly—especially by sons—produce akṣaya (inexhaustible) spiritual merit and sustained satisfaction of the pitṛs.

How does this verse explain the path of devotion (Bhakti)?

Indirectly: by emphasizing pitṛ-dharma and prescribed offerings, it supports the dharmic foundation that traditionally accompanies Vaiṣṇava bhakti—purity, gratitude to ancestors, and disciplined ritual conduct.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is implied: the verse lists specific items and the qualified performer (sons) for pitṛ-satisfaction, reflecting rule-based śrāddha and dāna prescriptions.