Shloka 33

The Procedure for Offering Piṇḍa (Funerary Rice-balls) — Gayā-māhātmya

Devanagari script

गयां दृष्ट्वा तु सुभगे महापापोऽपि पातकी । पूतः कृत्याधिकारी च श्राद्धकृद्ब्रह्मलोकभाक् ॥ ३३ ॥

Transliteration

gayāṃ dṛṣṭvā tu subhage mahāpāpo'pi pātakī | pūtaḥ kṛtyādhikārī ca śrāddhakṛdbrahmalokabhāk || 33 ||

Translation

يا ذا الحظ السعيد، إنّ أشدَّ الآثمين—وإن تلطّخ بالخطايا—يطهر بمجرد رؤية غايا (Gayā)؛ ويغدو أهلاً لإقامة شعائر الأسلاف المقرّرة، ومن أقام هناك طقس الشرادها (śrāddha) نال عالم براهما.

Word by Word

• गयाम्: Gaya (holy place)
• गयाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund), ‘having seen’

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विरोध/अन्वयार्थे ‘but/indeed’

• सुभगे: in the auspicious (place)
• सुभगे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुभग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; संबोधनार्थे/स्थाननिर्देशे ‘in/at the auspicious (place)’

• महापापः: a great sinner
• महापापः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महापाप (प्रातिपदिक: महा + पाप)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), समुच्चय/अपवादार्थे ‘even/also’

• पातकी: a wicked man/sinner
• पातकी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पातकिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पूतः: purified
• पूतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूत (प्रातिपदिक; √पू ‘to purify’ से क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle)

• कृत्याधिकारी: one entitled to perform rites
• कृत्याधिकारी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृत्य + अधिकारी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘of rites’ + ‘entitled’)

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

• श्राद्धकृत्: performer of śrāddha
• श्राद्धकृत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध + कृत् (प्रातिपदिक; √कृ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (‘śrāddha’ + ‘doer’)

• ब्रह्मलोकभाक्: attainer of Brahmaloka
• ब्रह्मलोकभाक्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मलोक + भाक् (प्रातिपदिक; √भज् ‘to partake’ से)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (‘Brahma-world’ + ‘partaker/attainer’)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the Uttara-Bhaga tirtha-mahatmya dialogue)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Gaya
• Brahmaloka
• Shraddha

FAQs

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

It declares the extraordinary purifying power of Gayā: mere darśana (seeing the tīrtha) cleanses even grave sin, and performing śrāddha there grants exalted post-mortem merit culminating in Brahmaloka.

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

By emphasizing tīrtha-darśana and śrāddha as sacred acts done with faith (śraddhā), it frames devotion as reverent participation in dharmic worship and ancestral offerings at a Viṣṇu-associated pilgrimage center (Gayā is widely upheld in Purāṇic tradition as a premier śrāddha-tīrtha).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual application (kalpa/śrauta-smārta procedure) is implied: the verse stresses adhikāra (eligibility) for kṛtya—especially pitṛ-karman like śrāddha—showing how correct rite-performance at a designated tīrtha is central to Purāṇic dharma practice.