Shloka 22

The Greatness of Gayā

Gayā-Māhātmya

Devanagari script

ब्रह्महत्या सुरापानं स्तेयं गुर्वंगनागमः । पापं तत्संगजं सर्वं गयाश्राद्धिनश्यति ॥ २२ ॥

Transliteration

brahmahatyā surāpānaṃ steyaṃ gurvaṃganāgamaḥ | pāpaṃ tatsaṃgajaṃ sarvaṃ gayāśrāddhinaśyati || 22 ||

Translation

Die Sünden des Brahmanenmordes, des Rauschtrinkens, des Diebstahls und des Nahens zur Frau des eigenen Guru—sowie jede Sünde, die aus der Verbindung mit solchen Taten entsteht—werden durch das Śrāddha in Gayā vernichtet.

Word by Word

• ब्रह्महत्या: killing of a brāhmaṇa
• ब्रह्महत्या: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्म-हत्या (प्रातिपदिक; ब्रह्मन् + हत्या)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: ब्रह्मणः हत्या)

• सुरापानम्: drinking liquor
• सुरापानम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुरा-पान (प्रातिपदिक; सुरा + पान)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: सुरायाः पानम्)

• स्तेयम्: theft
• स्तेयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्तेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• गुरु-अङ्गना-आगमः: approaching the guru’s wife (adultery)
• गुरु-अङ्गना-आगमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु + अङ्गना + आगम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: गुरोः अङ्गनायाः आगमः = approaching the teacher’s wife)

• पापम्: sin
• पापम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• तत्-सङ्ग-जम्: born from association with those (sins)
• तत्-सङ्ग-जम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + सङ्ग + ज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (उपपद/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: तेषां सङ्गात् जातम्)

• सर्वम्: all
• सर्वम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषण (agreeing with पापम्)

• गया-श्राद्धे: in the Gayā-śrāddha
• गया-श्राद्धे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गया-श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक; गया + श्राद्ध)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (गयायां श्राद्धे)

• नश्यति: perishes/is destroyed
• नश्यति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √नश् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Narada (teaching in the Gayā-māhātmya context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Gaya
• Shraddha

FAQs

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

It declares Gayā-śrāddha as a powerful purificatory rite (tīrtha-phala) capable of destroying even grave sins (mahāpātakas) and their secondary, association-born impurities.

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

By emphasizing sacred rite at a holy tīrtha, it points to surrender through prescribed worship for ancestors and dharmic observance—an outward expression of faith that supports inner purification and devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is implied: Śrāddha is a codified rite of pitr-kārya, performed with proper rules at a designated tīrtha (Gayā) for specific spiritual results.