Shloka 87
The Greatness of Gayā
Gayā-Māhātmya
आस्थिता तु सरिच्छ्रेष्ठा गययज्ञेषु रक्षिता । मंडपृष्ठं गयां चैव रैवतं देवपर्वतम् ॥ ८७ ॥
āsthitā tu saricchreṣṭhā gayayajñeṣu rakṣitā | maṃḍapṛṣṭhaṃ gayāṃ caiva raivataṃ devaparvatam || 87 ||
তাত নদীসমূহৰ ভিতৰত শ্ৰেষ্ঠা নদী অৱস্থিত, গয়াৰ যজ্ঞসমূহত ৰক্ষিত; সেয়ে মণ্ডপৃষ্ঠ, গয়া-ক্ষেত্ৰ আৰু দেৱপৰ্বত ৰৈৱতক ৰক্ষা কৰি পৱিত্ৰ কৰে।
Sūta (narrating Narada’s tīrtha-māhātmya teaching, traditionally received from Sanatkumāra-lineage)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It frames Gayā-kṣetra as divinely protected and ritually potent: the presence of the “foremost river” and the mention of specific sacred locales (Maṇḍapṛṣṭha, Gayā, Raivata) establish the area as a safeguarded field for yajña-like rites, especially those connected with dharma and ancestral offerings.
By highlighting protected sacred space and sanctioned rites at Gayā, the verse supports bhakti through tīrtha-sevā and śraddhā performed with reverence—devotional acts where faith, purity, and remembrance become offerings aligned with sacred geography.
Ritual application is implied: correct performance of Gayā-yajña/śrāddha depends on kalpa (procedural rules) and śikṣā/mantra-prayoga (proper recitation), with tīrtha-specific injunctions guiding where and how rites are to be done.