Shloka 24

The Greatness of Gayā

Gayā-Māhātmya

Devanagari script

गयायां पिंडदानेन यत्फलं लभते नरः । न तच्छक्यं मया वक्तुं कल्पकोटिशतैरपि ॥ २४ ॥

Transliteration

gayāyāṃ piṃḍadānena yatphalaṃ labhate naraḥ | na tacchakyaṃ mayā vaktuṃ kalpakoṭiśatairapi || 24 ||

Translation

Le mérite spirituel qu’un homme obtient en offrant des piṇḍas à Gayā est tel que je ne puis l’exprimer—fût-ce en des centaines de crores de kalpas.

Word by Word

• गयायाम्: in Gayā
• गयायाम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन

• पिण्ड-दानॆन: by offering piṇḍas (funeral oblations)
• पिण्ड-दानॆन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड + दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: पिण्डस्य दानेन)

• यत्-फलम्: whatever result
• यत्-फलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (यत् फलम् = which fruit/result)

• लभते: obtains
• लभते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √लभ् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• नरः: a man/person
• नरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (not)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (that)

• शक्यम्: possible
• शक्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शक्य (कृदन्त; √शक् + यत्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (predicative), यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (able/possible)

• मया: by me
• मया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, तृतीया (3), एकवचन

• वक्तुम्: to say
• वक्तुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय-रूप (infinitive); कर्तृ/कर्म-सम्बन्धे (to speak)

• कल्प-कोटि-शतैः: even by hundreds of crores of aeons
• कल्प-कोटि-शतैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कल्प + कोटि + शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः/परिमाणनिर्देशः: कल्पानां कोटि-शतानि; instrumental: by hundreds of crores of kalpas)

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण/समुच्चय (even/also)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Gayā

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in Narada Purana?

It proclaims the immeasurable (anirvacanīya) merit of performing piṇḍa-dāna at the Gayā tīrtha, elevating it as an exceptionally powerful act of pitṛ-kārya (ancestral rite) whose fruit surpasses ordinary description.

How does this verse explain the path of devotion (Bhakti)?

By exalting a tīrtha-rite tied to śraddhā (faith) and sacred intention, the verse supports bhakti through reverent action—devotion expressed as dharmic service to pitṛs within a holy field (tīrtha), which is traditionally connected with remembrance of the Divine and surrender to sacred order.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual application (Kalpa—śrāddha/antyeṣṭi-related procedure) is implied: the act of piṇḍa-dāna at a designated tīrtha and its phala-śruti (statement of merit), guiding correct performance and motivation in ancestral rites.