Shloka 4
The Greatness of Gayā
Gayā-Māhātmya
वसुरुवाच । पितृतीर्थं गयानाम सर्वतीर्थवरं स्मृतम् । यत्रास्ते देवदेवेशः स्वयमेव पितामहः ॥ ४ ॥
vasuruvāca | pitṛtīrthaṃ gayānāma sarvatīrthavaraṃ smṛtam | yatrāste devadeveśaḥ svayameva pitāmahaḥ || 4 ||
വസു പറഞ്ഞു—‘ഗയാ’ എന്ന പിതൃതീർത്ഥം സർവ്വതീർത്ഥങ്ങളിലെയും ശ്രേഷ്ഠമെന്നു സ്മരിക്കപ്പെടുന്നു; കാരണം അവിടെ ദേവദേവേശനായ പിതാമഹ ബ്രഹ്മാവ് സ്വയം വസിക്കുന്നു ॥ ४ ॥
Vasu
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It elevates Gayā as the supreme tīrtha specifically for pitṛ-kārya (rites for ancestors), grounding its authority in the presence of Pitāmaha (Brahmā) himself—thereby implying exceptional potency for śrāddha, tarpaṇa, and ancestral upliftment.
While the verse focuses on tīrtha-māhātmya, it supports bhakti through sacred geography: honoring ancestors at a divinely inhabited tīrtha is presented as a dhārmic act aligned with reverence for the devas and the cosmic order, preparing the devotee for deeper devotion and purity.
It points to ritual application (kalpa-prayoga) connected with pitṛ-yajña—selecting an authoritative tīrtha for śrāddha and tarpaṇa—rather than grammar or astrology; the practical takeaway is that place (deśa) is treated as a key factor in Vedic rite efficacy.