Shloka 84

The Greatness of Gayā

Gayā-Māhātmya

Devanagari script

अगस्त्यो भगवान्यत्र गतो वैवस्वतं प्रति । उवास सततं यत्र धर्मराजः सनातनः ॥ ८४ ॥

Transliteration

agastyo bhagavānyatra gato vaivasvataṃ prati | uvāsa satataṃ yatra dharmarājaḥ sanātanaḥ || 84 ||

Translation

Hier ging der ehrwürdige Weise Agastya zu Vaivasvata (Yama). Und hier weilt beständig der ewige Dharmarāja, der Herr des Dharma.

Word by Word

• agastyaḥ: Agastya
• agastyaḥ: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: agastya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (nominative, 1st), एकवचन

• bhagavān: venerable/divine
• bhagavān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण of ‘agastyaḥ’

• yatra: where
• yatra: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yatra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, सम्बन्धबोधक देशवाचक (where)

• gataḥ: went/has gone
• gataḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (धातु) → gata (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle, क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोग: ‘having gone/went’

• vaivasvatam: Vaivasvata (Yama)
• vaivasvatam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaivasvata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (accusative, 2nd), एकवचन; यमस्य नाम (Vaivasvata = Yama)

• prati: towards
• prati: Pratiyogin-direction (दिशा/सम्प्रदान-सदृश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: prati (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, उपसर्गसदृश/पूर्वसर्ग (preposition-like), अर्थ: ‘towards’

• uvāsa: dwelt/stayed
• uvāsa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vas (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन, परस्मैपद; ‘dwelt/stayed’

• satatam: always
• satatam: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: satata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावेन क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial accusative), अर्थ: ‘always/continually’

• yatra: where
• yatra: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yatra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, सम्बन्धबोधक देशवाचक (where)

• dharma-rājaḥ: Dharmarāja (Yama)
• dharma-rājaḥ: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘dharmasya rājā’ (king of dharma) = Yama

• sanātanaḥ: eternal/ancient
• sanātanaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sanātana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण of ‘dharma-rājaḥ’

Speaker

Narada (narrating the tirtha-mahatmya within Book 2’s dialogue frame)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Agastya
• Vaivasvata (Yama)
• Dharmaraja

FAQs

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

It marks the tirtha as a dharma-centered sacred locus—sanctified by Agastya’s visit and by the perpetual presence of Dharmarāja (Yama), emphasizing moral order, accountability, and purification through pilgrimage.

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

Indirectly, it frames devotion as inseparable from dharma: honoring sacred places and living righteously aligns a devotee with cosmic justice (Dharmarāja), which supports steady bhakti and reduces karmic obstacles.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse primarily reinforces Dharma-śāstra orientation rather than a specific Vedāṅga; practically, it supports tīrtha-yātrā and śrāddha/ancestral duty themes often linked with Yama, guiding ritual propriety and ethical conduct.