Shloka 17
The Greatness of Gayā
Gayā-Māhātmya
स्थिता विप्रास्तदा शप्ता गयायां ब्रह्मणा ततः । मा भूत्त्रिपुरुषी विद्या माभूत्त्रिपुरुषं धनम् ॥ १७ ॥
sthitā viprāstadā śaptā gayāyāṃ brahmaṇā tataḥ | mā bhūttripuruṣī vidyā mābhūttripuruṣaṃ dhanam || 17 ||
അപ്പോൾ ഗയയിൽ നിലകൊണ്ടിരുന്ന ആ വിപ്രന്മാരെ ബ്രഹ്മാവ് ശപിച്ചു—“ത്രിപുരുഷീ എന്ന വിദ്യ ഉണ്ടായിരിക്കരുത്; ത്രിപുരുഷം എന്ന ധനവും ഉണ്ടായിരിക്കരുത്।”
Narada (narrating to the Sanatkumara brothers, within the Gaya Mahatmya context)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: raudra
FAQs
It frames Gayā as a dharma-charged tīrtha where even Brahmā’s decree (śāpa) shapes what kinds of knowledge and wealth are considered fit to manifest, emphasizing restraint and sanctity in a pilgrimage setting.
By subordinating special powers (vidyā) and extraordinary wealth (dhana) to Brahmā’s moral order, the verse implicitly steers pilgrims toward humble tīrtha-sevā and devotion rather than pursuit of occult attainments or material gain.
The verse mainly reflects dharma-narrative rather than a Vedāṅga technique; however, it underscores the Vedic principle that mantras/vidyās and ritual outcomes must be governed by adhikāra (eligibility) and tīrtha-niyama (place-based injunctions).