Shloka 34

The Greatness of Gayā

Gayā-Māhātmya

Devanagari script

अतः परोऽयं जनकः परोऽस्य तत्कृष्णवक्त्रावपि दीर्घकालम् । अहं च शुद्धेन निजेन कर्मणा शक्रासनं प्राप्य सुदुर्लभं तकत् ॥ ३४ ॥

Transliteration

ataḥ paro'yaṃ janakaḥ paro'sya tatkṛṣṇavaktrāvapi dīrghakālam | ahaṃ ca śuddhena nijena karmaṇā śakrāsanaṃ prāpya sudurlabhaṃ takat || 34 ||

Translation

ಆದ್ದರಿಂದ ಈ ಜನಕನು ಶ್ರೇಷ್ಠನು, ಮತ್ತು ಅವನು ಅವನಿಗಿಂತಲೂ ಶ್ರೇಷ್ಠನು—ಆ ಕೃಷ್ಣಪ್ರಭುವಿನ ಸನ್ನಿಧಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ದೀರ್ಘಕಾಲ ನಿಂತವರಲ್ಲಿಯೂ. ನಾನೂ ನನ್ನ ಶುದ್ಧ ಕರ್ಮದಿಂದ ಶಕ್ರ (ಇಂದ್ರ)ನ ಆಸನವನ್ನು—ಅತಿದುರ್ಳಭ ಪದವಿಯನ್ನು—ಪಡೆದೆನು.

Word by Word

• ataḥ: therefore
• ataḥ: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Ablatival particle/adverb

• paraḥ: beyond / further
• paraḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular

• ayam: this (one)
• ayam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• janakaḥ: father
• janakaḥ: Pratijñā (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: janaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• paraḥ: further / subsequent
• paraḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• asya: of him
• asya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (6th), Singular

• tat: of that (one)
• tat: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Genitive (6th), Singular (or indeclinable demonstrative used as 'that'); here taken as genitive with vaktra

• kṛṣṇa-vaktrā: the two faces/mouths of Kṛṣṇa
• kṛṣṇa-vaktrā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + vaktra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Dual; तत्पुरुषः (kṛṣṇasya vaktram)

• api: also
• api: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle

• dīrgha-kālam: for a long time
• dīrgha-kālam: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: dīrgha (प्रातिपदिक) + kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Accusative used adverbially (कालाधिकरणे द्वितीया); कर्मधारयः (dīrghaḥ kālaḥ)

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (अस्मद् सर्वनाम)
• Form: Nominative, Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• śuddhena: by pure
• śuddhena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śuddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter/Masculine, Instrumental (3rd), Singular; agreeing with karmaṇā (neuter) in sense

• nijena: by my own
• nijena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter/Masculine, Instrumental, Singular; agreeing with karmaṇā

• karmaṇā: by (my) deed
• karmaṇā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd), Singular

• śakra-āsanam: Indra's throne
• śakra-āsanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śakra (प्रातिपदिक) + āsana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; तत्पुरुषः (śakrasya āsanam)

• prāpya: having attained
• prāpya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√āp (आप् धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त; ल्यप्), indeclinable verbal form

• su-durlabham: very hard to obtain
• su-durlabham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + durlabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; कर्मधारयः (su + durlabha) qualifying śakrāsanam

• tad: that
• tad: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; referring to śakrāsanam; text reads 'takat'—emended to 'tad'

Speaker

Unclear from single-verse input (likely a narrator/character within the Tirtha-Mahatmya dialogue of Book 2).

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Janaka
• Kṛṣṇa
• Śakra (Indra)

FAQs

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

It contrasts worldly exaltation (Indra’s throne) with a higher spiritual excellence attributed to Janaka—implying that purified conduct and realized wisdom can surpass even celestial ranks and long-standing proximity to divine presence.

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

By referencing being “before Kṛṣṇa’s face” for a long time, it suggests that mere proximity or duration is not the sole measure; inner purity and right orientation (which bhakti demands) are what make one truly ‘superior’ in the Lord’s economy.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The practical takeaway aligns with Dharma-śāstra reasoning rather than a specific Vedāṅga: karma-phala logic—purified action (śuddha-karma) yields specific results (like svarga/Indra-status), while higher discernment can indicate superiority beyond ritual reward.