Shloka 59
The Greatness of Gayā
Gayā-Māhātmya
तृतीयां तथा पादे निक्षीरायाश्च मण्डले । महाह्रदे च कौशिक्यां दत्तं श्राद्धं महाफलम् ॥ ५९ ॥
tṛtīyāṃ tathā pāde nikṣīrāyāśca maṇḍale | mahāhrade ca kauśikyāṃ dattaṃ śrāddhaṃ mahāphalam || 59 ||
Likewise, when the Śrāddha offering is performed on the third lunar day at that sacred pāda, within the maṇḍala of Nikṣīrā, and at the great lake in Kauśikī, it yields very great fruit.
Narada
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It teaches that performing Pitṛ-Śrāddha at specific tīrthas—on an auspicious tithi and at named sacred locations—multiplies the merit, emphasizing tīrtha-māhātmya and the sanctifying power of place in dharma.
While centered on ritual, it supports bhakti indirectly by framing Śrāddha as a sacred offering done with faith (śraddhā) in holy places, aligning household duty (pitṛ-tarpaṇa) with reverence for the divine order upheld in tīrthas.
Kalpa (ritual procedure) and Jyotiṣa (tithi-based timing) are implied: the verse highlights the importance of performing Śrāddha on a specific lunar day (tṛtīyā) and at prescribed sacred sites for enhanced results.