Shloka 11

Gayā-māhātmya: Gayāsura, Viṣṇu’s Establishment, and the Fruits of Śrāddha at Gayā

Devanagari script

पञ्चक्रोशं गयोक्षेत्रं ब्राह्मणेभ्यो ददौ प्रभुः / धरमयागेषु लोभात्तु प्रतिगृह्य धनादिकम्

Transliteration

pañcakrośaṃ gayokṣetraṃ brāhmaṇebhyo dadau prabhuḥ / dharamayāgeṣu lobhāttu pratigṛhya dhanādikam

Translation

Le Seigneur accorda aux brāhmaṇas l’enceinte sacrée de Gayā, longue de cinq krośas. Pourtant, dans des rites accomplis au nom du dharma, par avidité ils acceptèrent richesses et autres présents.

Word by Word

• पञ्चक्रोशम्: (of) five krośas (in extent)
• पञ्चक्रोशम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्चक्रोश (प्रातिपदिक) = पञ्च + क्रोश
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; परिमाणवाचक (measure)

• गयोक्षेत्रम्: the Gaya sacred region
• गयोक्षेत्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गया + क्षेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ब्राह्मणेभ्यः: to the Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणेभ्यः: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (सम्प्रदान), बहुवचन

• ददौ: gave
• ददौ: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• प्रभुः: the Lord
• प्रभुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

• धरमयागेषु: in the dharma-sacrifices
• धरमयागेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धरमयाग (प्रातिपदिक) = धरम + याग
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), बहुवचन

• लोभात्: out of greed
• लोभात्: Apadana/Hetu (Cause/अपादान-हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान/हेतु), एकवचन; कारणार्थे (from/through greed)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विशेषार्थक (particle: but/indeed)

• प्रतिगृह्य: having accepted
• प्रतिगृह्य: Kriya (Gerundial action/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रतिग्रह्/ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); ‘प्रतिगृह्य’ = having accepted/received

• धनादिकम्: wealth and the like
• धनादिकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘wealth etc.’

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in dialogue with Garuḍa / Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Even in dharmic contexts, greed (lobha) vitiates merit; accepting gifts with impure motive in yajña/rites becomes adharma.

Vedantic Theme: Antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi as prerequisite for dharma bearing fruit; karma’s efficacy depends on intention (bhāva).

Application: Perform and facilitate rituals with transparency and moderation; give/receive dakṣiṇā without exploitation; cultivate aparigraha and accountability in religious economy.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Geographic Context

Type: tirtha/kṣetra (five-krośa precinct)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: repeated warnings against hypocrisy in śrāddha and misuse of dakṣiṇā (general thematic parallel)

Characters & Entities

• Viṣṇu
• Brāhmaṇas
• Gayā-kṣetra

FAQs

What is the importance of Gayā-kṣetra in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

This verse highlights Gayā as a specially granted sacred precinct (five krośas), indicating its elevated sanctity and ritual importance, especially for dharmic observances connected with ancestral rites.

How does this verse relate to the ethics of religious rituals?

It contrasts divine sanctification of a holy place with human weakness: rituals labeled as ‘dharma’ can be compromised when performed with greed, particularly through improper attachment to wealth and gifts.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform pilgrimages, śrāddha, and charitable giving with sincerity; avoid transactional spirituality—both priests and patrons should keep intention pure and aligned with dharma rather than profit.