Shloka 5

The Greatness of Gayā

Gayā-Māhātmya

Devanagari script

यत्रैषा पितृभिर्गीता गाथा योगमभीप्सुभिः । एष्टव्या बहवः पुत्रा यद्येकोऽपि गयां व्रजेत् ॥ ५ ॥

Transliteration

yatraiṣā pitṛbhirgītā gāthā yogamabhīpsubhiḥ | eṣṭavyā bahavaḥ putrā yadyeko'pi gayāṃ vrajet || 5 ||

Translation

അവിടെ പിതൃകൾ തന്നേ ഈ ഗാഥ പാടിയിരിക്കുന്നു; യോഗം ആഗ്രഹിക്കുന്നവർ അതിനെ തേടുന്നു—“അനേകം പുത്രന്മാരെ ആഗ്രഹിക്കണം; അവരിൽ ഒരാളെങ്കിലും ഗയയിലേക്കു പോയാൽ മതി.”

Word by Word

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable); सम्बन्धबोधक-अव्यय/देशवाचक (relative adverb of place: “where”)

• एषा: this (she/this one)
• एषा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• पितृभिः: by the ancestors (manes)
• पितृभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• गीता: sung/recited
• गीता: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गै (धाातु) → गीत (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; “sung/recited”

• गाथा: a verse/ballad
• गाथा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गाथा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• योगम्: yoga / union / spiritual attainment
• योगम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• अभीप्सुभिः: by those who desire
• अभीप्सुभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभि-ईप्सु (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; इच्छार्थक-प्रातिपदिक (desiderative agent noun: “desiring”)

• एष्टव्या: should be sought
• एष्टव्या: Vidhi (विधि/कर्तव्यता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष् (धातु) → एष्टव्य (कृदन्त)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive/obligatory); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; “to be sought/desired”

• बहवः: many
• बहवः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• पुत्राः: sons
• पुत्राः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• यदि: if
• यदि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/शर्त)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; शर्तार्थक-सम्बन्ध (conditional particle: “if”)

• एकः: one
• एकः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/समुच्चयार्थक (particle: “even/also”)

• गयाम्: to Gayā
• गयाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; स्थानवाचक (place-name)

• व्रजेत्: should go
• व्रजेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्रज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Narada (teaching in the Gaya Mahatmya context; verse attributed as a gāthā of the Pitṛs)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Rasa: {"primary_rasa":"bhakti","secondary_rasa":"shanta","emotional_journey":"Reverent remembrance of the Pitṛs’ own utterance, moving from ancestral longing to confident assurance that Gayā-yātrā fulfills their hope."}

Characters & Entities

• Pitrs
• Gaya

FAQs

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

It elevates Gayā as a highly efficacious tīrtha for Pitṛ-related merit and liberation-oriented aims, stating that even a single descendant’s pilgrimage to Gayā can fulfill an important ancestral purpose, hence the cultural emphasis on lineage and śrāddha-supporting duties.

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

While framed around Pitṛ-dharma, it supports Bhakti-oriented practice indirectly: tīrtha-yātrā and śrāddha at Gayā are performed with śraddhā (faith) and remembrance of the divine order, integrating devotion with duty and making ritual action a vehicle for inner purification.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is implied—especially śrāddha/tarpaṇa and tīrtha-vidhi connected with Gayā—showing how dhārmic rites for ancestors are structured and why specific sacred locations are prescribed for them.