Shloka 17
The Greatness of Gayā
Gayā-Māhātmya
स्थिता विप्रास्तदा शप्ता गयायां ब्रह्मणा ततः । मा भूत्त्रिपुरुषी विद्या माभूत्त्रिपुरुषं धनम् ॥ १७ ॥
sthitā viprāstadā śaptā gayāyāṃ brahmaṇā tataḥ | mā bhūttripuruṣī vidyā mābhūttripuruṣaṃ dhanam || 17 ||
তখন গয়ায় অবস্থানরত সেই বিপ্রগণকে ব্রহ্মা শাপ দিলেন—“ত্রিপুরুষী নামে বিদ্যা যেন না থাকে, এবং ত্রিপুরুষ নামে ধনও যেন না থাকে।”
Narada (narrating to the Sanatkumara brothers, within the Gaya Mahatmya context)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: raudra
FAQs
It frames Gayā as a dharma-charged tīrtha where even Brahmā’s decree (śāpa) shapes what kinds of knowledge and wealth are considered fit to manifest, emphasizing restraint and sanctity in a pilgrimage setting.
By subordinating special powers (vidyā) and extraordinary wealth (dhana) to Brahmā’s moral order, the verse implicitly steers pilgrims toward humble tīrtha-sevā and devotion rather than pursuit of occult attainments or material gain.
The verse mainly reflects dharma-narrative rather than a Vedāṅga technique; however, it underscores the Vedic principle that mantras/vidyās and ritual outcomes must be governed by adhikāra (eligibility) and tīrtha-niyama (place-based injunctions).