Shloka 35
The Greatness of Gayā
Gayā-Māhātmya
त्वया पुनर्मंत्रविदा गयायां पिंडप्रदानेन बलादिमौ च । मोक्षायितौ तीर्थवरप्रभावाद वीचिसंज्ञं नरकं गतौ तौ ॥ ३५ ॥
tvayā punarmaṃtravidā gayāyāṃ piṃḍapradānena balādimau ca | mokṣāyitau tīrthavaraprabhāvāda vīcisaṃjñaṃ narakaṃ gatau tau || 35 ||
But you, a knower of mantras, performed the offering of piṇḍas at Gayā; by the power of that foremost tīrtha, Bala and the other one were liberated, and the two were freed from the hell called Vīci.
Sanatkumara (in dialogue context with Narada, praising the efficacy of Gayā-śrāddha)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: karuna (compassion)
Secondary Rasa: bhakti (devotion)
FAQs
It declares that Gayā is a supreme tīrtha where properly performed piṇḍa-dāna (with mantra-knowledge) can liberate departed beings—even those who have fallen into the naraka called Vīci—by the tīrtha’s unique spiritual potency.
The verse frames liberation as arising from sacred action done with reverence and right mantra, implying that faith-filled service to a divinely empowered tīrtha (a form of bhakti expressed through śrāddha) becomes a means of grace and release for others.
Mantra-competence and correct ritual performance are emphasized—pointing to Vedāṅga applications such as Vyākaraṇa (accurate recitation/form), Śikṣā (proper phonetics), and Kalpa (ritual procedure) in conducting piṇḍa-dāna at Gayā.