Shloka 52

The Greatness of Gayā

Gayā-Māhātmya

Devanagari script

गयायामक्षयं श्राद्धं जपहोमतपांसि च । पितृक्षये हि तत्पुत्रैः कृतमानंत्यतां व्रजेत् ॥ ५२ ॥

Transliteration

gayāyāmakṣayaṃ śrāddhaṃ japahomatapāṃsi ca | pitṛkṣaye hi tatputraiḥ kṛtamānaṃtyatāṃ vrajet || 52 ||

Translation

ガヤー（Gayā）においては、祖霊のためのシュラーダッダ（śrāddha）の功徳は不滅である。そこにて修されるジャパ（japa）、ホーマ（homa）、タパス（tapas）もまた同様である。まことに、ピトリがすでに去った後であっても、子らがそこで行う一切は尽きぬ霊的利益へと至る。

Word by Word

• गयायाम्: in Gayā
• गयायाम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अक्षयम्: imperishable
• अक्षयम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अक्षय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (qualifying śrāddha)

• श्राद्धम्: śrāddha rite
• श्राद्धम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• जप: recitation
• जप: Samāsa-aṅga (समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (in compound), एकवचन

• होम: fire-offering
• होम: Samāsa-aṅga (समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: होम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (in compound), एकवचन

• तपांसि: austerities
• तपांसि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• पितृक्षये: in/at the pitṛkṣaya (rite/place for ancestors’ relief)
• पितृक्षये: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ-क्षय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha/Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphasis/causal particle)

• तत्पुत्रैः: by his sons
• तत्पुत्रैः: Kartṛ (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत्-पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (तस्य पुत्राः); पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• कृतम्: done/performed
• कृतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (agreeing with implied कर्म)

• आनंत्यताम्: endlessness (state of infinite merit)
• आनंत्यताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आनन्त्यता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• व्रजेत्: would attain/go to
• व्रजेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्रज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta (narrating the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue contextually in Uttara-Bhaga)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Gayā
• Pitṛs

FAQs

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

It declares Gayā as a supreme tīrtha where śrāddha and allied sādhanas (japa, homa, tapas) yield akṣaya (inexhaustible) merit, benefiting the ancestral line and producing enduring spiritual fruit.

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

While the verse speaks in ritual language, it supports bhakti-oriented tīrtha practice: performing sacred acts at Gayā with faith and intention for Pitṛs becomes an unfailing offering, reinforcing devotion expressed through dharmic rites.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights kalpa/śrauta-smārta prayoga (ritual procedure) through śrāddha and homa, and the applied dharma of pitṛ-kārya—how place (tīrtha) and correct performance shape the stated phala (result).