Shloka 3
The Glory of Gayā and the Pilgrimage Circuit of Allied Tīrthas
यत्राक्षय्यवटो नाम त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुतः । पितॄणां तत्र वै दत्तमक्षयं भवति प्रभो
yatrākṣayyavaṭo nāma triṣu lokeṣu viśrutaḥ | pitṝṇāṃ tatra vai dattamakṣayaṃ bhavati prabho
Dort, wo der heilige Banyan namens Akṣayya-vaṭa in den drei Welten berühmt ist, o Herr, wird alles, was man dort den Ahnen darbringt, wahrhaft unerschöpflich.
Uncertain (context not provided; likely within a Pulastya–Bhīṣma dialogue common to the Padma Purāṇa’s pilgrimage sections)
Concept: Śrāddha and pitṛ-offerings at a properly empowered tīrtha yield akṣaya (imperishable) results.
Application: Honor ancestors through regular remembrance, charity in their name, and ethical living; when possible, perform śrāddha with sincerity rather than display.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: forest
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A colossal banyan spreads like a living mandala, its aerial roots descending as pillars, each leaf catching a faint divine sheen. Beneath it, a devotee offers water and sesame with cupped hands, while subtle ancestral forms hover peacefully, receiving the offering that turns into an endless stream of light.","primary_figures":["devotee performing pitṛ-tarpaṇa","pitṛs (subtle, luminous)","Akṣayya-vaṭa banyan (personified sacred tree)"],"setting":"Sacred banyan grove near Gayā with a small altar stone, kusa grass, and ritual vessels","lighting_mood":"temple lamp-lit","color_palette":["deep banyan green","bronze-brown","ghee-lamp amber","smoke gray","pearl white"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: monumental Akṣayya-vaṭa with gold leaf highlights on leaves and roots, devotee in traditional dhoti offering tarpaṇa, pitṛs as faint gold-embossed silhouettes, ornate border with lotus and śaṅkha-cakra motifs, rich maroon and emerald tones.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: intricate banyan foliage rendered with fine brushwork, quiet ritual scene with copper lota and sesame, soft halos for pitṛs, gentle earth palette with cool shadows, lyrical stillness.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: stylized banyan with rhythmic roots, devotee in profile with bold outlines, pitṛs as pale ochre figures, warm red-yellow-green pigments, sacred geometry framing the tree as a cosmic axis.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: banyan as central motif surrounded by floral borders, repeated leaf patterns, small vignettes of tarpaṇa around the trunk, deep indigo background with gold and white detailing to signify akṣaya radiance."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"meditative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["rustling leaves","low temple bell","soft mantra hum","silence between phrases"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: यत्राक्षय्यवटो = यत्र + अक्षय्यवटः; दत्तमक्षयं = दत्तम् + अक्षयम्
FAQs
It states that offerings made at the renowned Akṣayya-vaṭa, especially for the Pitṛs, yield ‘akṣaya’ (inexhaustible) merit—highlighting place-sanctity (tīrtha-māhātmya) in ritual giving.
Pitṛs are one’s ancestral forebears; offerings (such as tarpana, piṇḍa, or dāna dedicated in their name) are performed to support and honor them, and to uphold filial duty (pitṛ-ṛṇa).
The verse elevates gratitude and responsibility toward one’s lineage: sincere, properly dedicated giving—especially for ancestors—creates enduring spiritual benefit rather than short-lived reward.