Agni Purana — Bhuvanakosha & Tirtha-mahatmya, Shloka 10

Chapter 116 — गयायात्राविधिः (Gayā-yātrā-vidhiḥ) | The Procedure for the Gayā Pilgrimage

Devanagari script

परलोकगते मह्यमक्ष्यय्यमुपतिष्ठतां गयायां पितृरूपेण स्वयमेव जनार्दनः

Transliteration

paralokagate mahyamakṣyayyamupatiṣṭhatāṃ gayāyāṃ pitṛrūpeṇa svayameva janārdanaḥ

Translation

ഞാൻ പരലോകത്തിലേക്ക് ഗമിച്ചാൽ, ഗയാക്ഷേത്രത്തിൽ പിതൃരൂപമായി നിലകൊള്ളുന്ന അക്ഷയനായ ജനാർദനൻ സ്വയം എന്റെ സമീപത്ത് നിലകൊണ്ട് അചഞ്ചല സഹായിയായിരിക്കട്ടെ.

Word by Word

• परलोकगते: when (I am) gone to the next world
• परलोकगते: अधिकरण/विशेषण (Locative qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परलोक (प्रातिपदिक) + गत (गम्-धातु + क्त)
• Form: सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (लिङ्ग-अनिश्चितम्—सम्बोधन/सन्दर्भे ‘मह्यम्’ इत्यस्य हेतुना) समास: परलोकं गतः/गता = ‘gone to the next world’; कृदन्त-विशेषण

• मह्यम्: for me
• मह्यम्: सम्प्रदान (Sampradāna/Dative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; सम्प्रदान (dative)

• अक्षय्यम्: imperishable
• अक्षय्यम्: कर्म (Karma/Object complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अक्षय्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (object-complement)

• उपतिष्ठताम्: may (they/it) attend/stand by
• उपतिष्ठताम्: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-स्था (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद

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

• पितृरूपेण: in the form of the ancestors
• पितृरूपेण: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument; manner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृरूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समास: पितॄणां रूपम् / पितृ-रूपः; करण/प्रकार (instrumental of manner)

• स्वयम्: by oneself
• स्वयम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: स्वतन्त्रार्थक-अव्यय (adverb: oneself)

• एव: indeed
• एव: निपात (Emphasis particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (particle: indeed/only)

• जनार्दनः: Janārdana
• जनार्दनः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनार्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Agni (in dialogue with Sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purana frame)

Vidya Category

Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Stotra","practical_application":"Prayer used in Gayā-śrāddha: invoking Janārdana as the imperishable support who manifests as Pitṛs, ensuring post-mortem protection and continuity of ancestral rites.","sutra_style":false}

Encyclopedic Reference

Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Gayā: Janārdana as Pitṛ-rūpa and Akṣaya-śaraṇa","lookup_keywords":["Gayā śrāddha","pitṛrūpa Janārdana","akṣaya","paraloka","pitṛ-tarpaṇa"],"quick_summary":"The verse frames Gayā as a locus where Janārdana is present in the form of the Pitṛs; the devotee prays for unfailing support after death."}

Kavya & Alamkara Layer

Alamkara Type: Rūpaka (identification: Janārdana as Pitṛ-rūpa)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Īśvara as the ultimate guarantor of pitṛ-yajña; divine immanence in ancestral forms.

Application: During Gayā-śrāddha, cultivate śaraṇāgati: dedicate rites to the Akṣaya Lord, viewing Pitṛs as His manifestation.

Khanda Section

Khanda Section: Shraddha-vidhi (Gaya-shraddha and Pitri-tarpana)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Geographic Context

Type: Tirtha

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"At Gayā, a devotee performs pitṛ-tarpaṇa and piṇḍa offerings; Janārdana appears subtly as the Pitṛs—an imperishable protective presence behind the ritual.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Gayā ghats with priests and darbha, three Pitṛ figures haloed yet sharing Viṣṇu’s iconographic aura, muted sacred palette, frontal ritual composition","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, central Janārdana with gold halo, below him Pitṛs seated receiving offerings, devotee kneeling with piṇḍas, gold embellishment on halos and vessels","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic scene: Gayā shrine/ghat labeled, priest guiding tarpaṇa, translucent overlay of Janārdana as Pitṛ-rūpa, fine lines and calm tones","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed ghat architecture and crowd, devotee offering water with cupped hands, ethereal Viṣṇu presence blending with ancestral figures, soft atmospheric wash"}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: मह्यमक्षय्यम् = मह्यम् + अक्षय्यम् (म् + अ → म).

Cross References

Related Themes: Agni Purana 116 (Gayā-śrāddha context)

Characters & Entities

• Gayā
• Pitṛs
• Janārdana (Viṣṇu)

FAQs

What technical or ritual knowledge (Vidya) is imparted in this verse?

It conveys the Gaya-śrāddha doctrine that Viṣṇu (Janārdana) is specially present at Gayā as Pitṛrūpa, making the rite there yield akṣaya (inexhaustible) support/merit for the departed and the performer.

How does this verse contribute to the 'Encyclopedic' nature of the Agni Purana?

Alongside many subjects, the Agni Purana functions as a practical ritual compendium; this verse anchors a pilgrimage-based śrāddha teaching (Gayā-mahātmya) by linking place-theology (tīrtha) with ancestral ritual efficacy.

What is the spiritual or karmic significance of this specific instruction?

It emphasizes that remembrance and śrāddha connected with Gayā invoke imperishable divine assistance—Janārdana’s grace mediated through the Pitṛs—supporting auspicious post-mortem destiny and purification of ancestral obligations.