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Shloka 42

The Greatness of Gayā

Gayā-Māhātmya

सकृद्गयाभिगमनं सकृत्पिंडप्रपातनम् । दुर्लभं किं पुनर्नित्यमस्मिन्नेव व्यवस्थितिः ॥ ४२ ॥

sakṛdgayābhigamanaṃ sakṛtpiṃḍaprapātanam | durlabhaṃ kiṃ punarnityamasminneva vyavasthitiḥ || 42 ||

Si una sola visita a Gayā y una sola ofrenda del piṇḍa son ya tan difíciles de alcanzar, ¡cuánto más rara es, en verdad, la capacidad de permanecer aquí firmemente establecido una y otra vez como práctica constante!

sakṛtonce
sakṛt:
Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootsakṛt (अव्यय)
FormAdverb (संख्यावाचक/कालवाचक अव्यय)
gayā-abhigamanamgoing to Gayā
gayā-abhigamanam:
Kartā (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootgayā (प्रातिपदिक) + abhigamana (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNapumsaka, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (gayāyāḥ abhigamanam)
sakṛtonce
sakṛt:
Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootsakṛt (अव्यय)
FormAdverb (कालवाचक अव्यय)
piṇḍa-prapātanamcasting down/offering the piṇḍa
piṇḍa-prapātanam:
Kartā (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootpiṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक) + prapātana (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNapumsaka, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (piṇḍasya prapātanam)
durlabhamrare/difficult to obtain
durlabham:
Pradhāna-viśeṣaṇa (प्रधानविशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootdurlabha (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNapumsaka, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; predicate adjective
kimwhat (then)
kim:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootkim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormNapumsaka, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; interrogative used idiomatically
punaragain/then
punar:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootpunar (अव्यय)
FormAdverb/particle (पुनर्-निपात)
nityamalways
nityam:
Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootnitya (प्रातिपदिक)
FormAdverbial accusative (नित्यं) functioning as avyaya
asminin this (place/thing)
asmin:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootidam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine/Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular
evaindeed/only
eva:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rooteva (अव्यय)
FormParticle (निपात), restriction/emphasis
vyavasthitiḥremaining/abiding
vyavasthitiḥ:
Kartā (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootvyavasthiti (प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

Narada

Vrata: none

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

G
Gaya

FAQs

It emphasizes the rarity and merit of reaching Gayā and performing even one piṇḍa-offering for ancestors, and highlights that sustained, repeated devotion to such dharma is even more difficult and therefore more praiseworthy.

Though centered on śrāddha, it points to steadiness (nitya-vyavasthiti) as the real spiritual challenge—echoing bhakti’s core principle of consistent practice rather than occasional acts alone.

It reflects Kalpa (ritual procedure) through śrāddha and piṇḍa-dāna, stressing correct performance and the importance of regular observance in prescribed rites.