Shloka 54

The Greatness of Gayā

Gayā-Māhātmya

Devanagari script

गयायां धर्मपृष्ठे च सदसि ब्रह्मणस्तथा । गयाशीर्थेऽक्षयवटे पितॄणां दत्तमक्षयम् ॥ ५४ ॥

Transliteration

gayāyāṃ dharmapṛṣṭhe ca sadasi brahmaṇastathā | gayāśīrthe'kṣayavaṭe pitṝṇāṃ dattamakṣayam || 54 ||

Translation

गयेत—धर्मपृष्ठावर, तसेच ब्रह्माच्या सभेत; आणि गयाशीर्षावरील अक्षयवटाजवळ—पितरांसाठी जे काही दिले जाते ते अक्षय ठरते।

Word by Word

गयायाम्in Gayā

धर्मपृष्ठेat Dharma-pṛṣṭha (a sacred spot)

चand

सदसिin the assembly/hall

ब्रह्मणःof Brahmā / of a brāhmaṇa (context: Brahmā)

तथाlikewise

गयाशीर्थेat the head/top of Gayā

अक्षयवटेat the imperishable banyan (Akṣayavaṭa)

पितॄणाम्of the ancestors

दत्तम्given/offered

अक्षयम्imperishable

Speaker

Sage Narada (teaching the Sanatkumara brothers in the Uttara-Bhaga tirtha-mahatmya context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Rasa: {"primary_rasa":"adbhuta","secondary_rasa":"shanta","emotional_journey":"A litany of sacred loci within Gayā builds awe at their sanctifying power, settling into serene certainty: offerings become akṣaya."}

Characters & Entities

Gaya

Brahma

Pitrs

Dharmapristha

Gayashirsha

Akshayavata

FAQs

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

It declares Gayā—especially Dharmapṛṣṭha, Brahmā’s sacred assembly, Gayāśiras, and the Akṣayavaṭa—as places where offerings to the Pitṛs yield akṣaya-phala, i.e., undiminishing spiritual merit and lasting benefit to ancestors.

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

While focused on śrāddha, it supports bhakti through reverent service (seva) and faith in tīrtha—performing ancestral rites as dharma dedicated to the divine order, trusting that sacred places preserve and magnify the offering’s fruit.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is implied: the verse identifies specific tīrthas where śrāddha/dāna for Pitṛs is prescribed and said to be especially efficacious, guiding correct ritual location-selection within dharma practice.