Shloka 87

The Greatness of Gayā

Gayā-Māhātmya

Devanagari script

आस्थिता तु सरिच्छ्रेष्ठा गययज्ञेषु रक्षिता । मंडपृष्ठं गयां चैव रैवतं देवपर्वतम् ॥ ८७ ॥

Transliteration

āsthitā tu saricchreṣṭhā gayayajñeṣu rakṣitā | maṃḍapṛṣṭhaṃ gayāṃ caiva raivataṃ devaparvatam || 87 ||

Translation

അവിടെ നദികളിൽ ശ്രേഷ്ഠയായ നദി വസിക്കുന്നു; ഗയയിലെ യജ്ഞങ്ങളിൽ സംരക്ഷിക്കപ്പെട്ടവൾ. അവൾ മണ്ഡപൃഷ്ഠം, ഗയാക്ഷേത്രം, ദേവപർവ്വതമായ റൈവതം എന്നിവയെ കാത്ത് പവിത്രമാക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

• आस्थिता: situated/established
• आस्थिता: विशेषण (of saricchreṣṭhā)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ-स्था (धातु) + आस्थित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (fem. nom. sg.)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: सम्बन्ध (particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (contrastive particle)

• सरित्-श्रेष्ठा: the best of rivers
• सरित्-श्रेष्ठा: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सरित् + श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (सरितां श्रेष्ठा)

• गय-यज्ञेषु: in the Gaya sacrifices
• गय-यज्ञेषु: अधिकरण (Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गय + यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (गयायां यज्ञेषु)

• रक्षिता: protected
• रक्षिता: विशेषण (of saricchreṣṭhā)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्ष् (धातु) + रक्षित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (fem. nom. sg.)

• मण्ड-पृष्ठम्: Maṇḍapṛṣṭha (place-name)
• मण्ड-पृष्ठम्: कर्म (Object; as a listed sacred spot)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मण्ड + पृष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मण्डस्य पृष्ठम्)

• गयाम्: Gayā
• गयाम्: कर्म (Object; place-name)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (fem. acc. sg.)

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (conjunctive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-बोधक (conjunction)

• एव: indeed/also
• एव: सम्बन्ध (particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण-निपात (emphatic particle)

• रैवतम्: Raivata
• रैवतम्: कर्म (Object; place-name)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रैवत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (neut. acc. sg.)

• देव-पर्वतम्: Devaparvata (mountain of the gods)
• देव-पर्वतम्: कर्म (Object; place-name)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + पर्वत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (देवानां पर्वतम्)

Speaker

Sūta (narrating Narada’s tīrtha-māhātmya teaching, traditionally received from Sanatkumāra-lineage)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Rasa: {"primary_rasa":"adbhuta","secondary_rasa":"shanta","emotional_journey":"Awe at the river’s supremacy and protective power settles into calm assurance of the kṣetra’s safeguarded holiness."}

Characters & Entities

• Gayā
• Raivata
• Maṇḍapṛṣṭha
• Sarit-śreṣṭhā (foremost river)

FAQs

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

It frames Gayā-kṣetra as divinely protected and ritually potent: the presence of the “foremost river” and the mention of specific sacred locales (Maṇḍapṛṣṭha, Gayā, Raivata) establish the area as a safeguarded field for yajña-like rites, especially those connected with dharma and ancestral offerings.

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

By highlighting protected sacred space and sanctioned rites at Gayā, the verse supports bhakti through tīrtha-sevā and śraddhā performed with reverence—devotional acts where faith, purity, and remembrance become offerings aligned with sacred geography.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual application is implied: correct performance of Gayā-yajña/śrāddha depends on kalpa (procedural rules) and śikṣā/mantra-prayoga (proper recitation), with tīrtha-specific injunctions guiding where and how rites are to be done.