Shloka 12

The Greatness of Gayā

Gayā-Māhātmya

Devanagari script

तस्य देहे लिंग रूपी स्थितः शुद्धः पितामहः । विष्णुवाहार्थमर्यादां पुण्यक्षेत्रं भविष्यति ॥ १२ ॥

Transliteration

tasya dehe liṃga rūpī sthitaḥ śuddhaḥ pitāmahaḥ | viṣṇuvāhārthamaryādāṃ puṇyakṣetraṃ bhaviṣyati || 12 ||

Translation

അവന്റെ ദേഹത്തിൽ ലിംഗരൂപത്തിൽ ശുദ്ധനായ പിതാമഹൻ (ബ്രഹ്മാവ്) വസിക്കുന്നു; വിഷ്ണുവിന്റെ വാഹനം നിമിത്തം സ്ഥാപിച്ച ആ പരിധി പിന്നീട് പുണ്യക്ഷേത്രമാകും।

Word by Word

• tasya: of him/its
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• dehe: in the body
• dehe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• liṅga-rūpī: having the form of a liṅga
• liṅga-rūpī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: liṅga (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (having the form of a liṅga)

• sthitaḥ: is situated
• sthitaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √sthā (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘being situated/standing’

• śuddhaḥ: pure
• śuddhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śuddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• pitāmahaḥ: Pitāmaha (Brahmā)
• pitāmahaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitāmaha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• viṣṇu-vāha-artha-maryādām: a boundary/limit for the purpose of Viṣṇu’s mount
• viṣṇu-vāha-artha-maryādām: Karma/Prayojana (कर्म/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक) + vāha (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक) + maryādā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थे (as a boundary/limit for the purpose of Viṣṇu’s vehicle)

• puṇya-kṣetram: a holy field (sacred place)
• puṇya-kṣetram: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṇya (प्रातिपदिक) + kṣetra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• bhaviṣyati: will be
• bhaviṣyati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Narada (within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue framework)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Brahma (Pitamaha)
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It sanctifies a specific place/body as a puṇya-kṣetra by linking it to Brahmā’s pure presence in liṅga-form and to a divinely ordained maryādā (sacred boundary) connected with Viṣṇu.

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

Bhakti is implied through the tirtha-mahātmya lens: reverence for Viṣṇu and honoring divinely marked sacred geography becomes a devotional act that generates puṇya and supports spiritual progress.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects ritual and sacred-space principles (maryādā/demarcation of a kṣetra) relevant to Kalpa (ritual procedure) rather than grammar or astrology—showing how a site is authorized as a pilgrimage field.