Varaha Purana 7.2: Adhyaya 7, Shloka 2
The Sanctity of Gayā: Raibhya’s Encounter and Hymn to Viṣṇu
Gadādhara
Pūrva Bhāga · Gayā Māhātmya (Pitṛ-tīrtha and ancestral rites)
श्रीवराह उवाच । स रैभ्यो मुनिशार्दूलः श्रुत्वा सिद्धं वसुं तदा । आजगाम गयां पुण्यां पितृतीर्थं तपोधनः । तत्र गत्वा पितॄन् भक्त्या पिण्डदानेन तर्पयत् ॥ ७.२ ॥
śrīvarāha uvāca | sa raibhyo muniśārdūlaḥ śrutvā siddhaṃ vasuṃ tadā | ājagāma gayāṃ puṇyāṃ pitṛtīrthaṃ tapodhanaḥ | tatra gatvā pitṝn bhaktyā piṇḍadānena tarpayat || 7.2 ||
shrIvarAha uvAcha | sa raibhyo munishArdUlaH shrutvA siddhaM vasuM tadA | AjagAma gayAM puNyAM pitRRitIrthaM tapodhanaH | tatra gatvA pitRRIn bhaktyA piNDadAnena tarpayat || 7.2 ||
श्रीवराह म्हणाले—तेव्हा मुनिशार्दूल रैभ्य, सिद्ध वसूविषयी ऐकून, तपोधन होऊन पुण्य गयाक्षेत्र—पितृतीर्थ—येथे आला। तेथे जाऊन त्याने भक्तीने पिंडदान करून पितरांना तृप्त केले।
Sandhi Notes
- śrīvarāha uvāca → śrīvarāhaḥ uvāca
- pitṛtīrthaṃ → pitṛ-tīrtham
- vimānastho'tidīptimān (next verse) not here
- piṇḍdānena → piṇḍa-dānena (compound)
Varāha
Attentive; seeking resolution of doubt
Spiritual striving (tapas, siddhi) is harmonized with duty to ancestors; devotion (bhakti) sanctifies ritual action.
Integrate personal sādhana with periodic śrāddha/piṇḍa offerings at appropriate times/places, performed with श्रद्धा and devotion.
Varāha speaks as instructor to Bhu Devi, answering her doubt with a dharma-anchored narrative (pitṛ-tarpaṇa at Gayā).
One should go to a pitṛ-tīrtha like Gayā and satisfy the ancestors with devotion through piṇḍa-dāna (a śrāddha act).
Proper pitṛ-tarpaṇa brings ancestral satisfaction and supports the performer’s auspicious progress; neglect implies continued pitṛ-asantoṣa and obstruction of welfare (implied by śrāddha doctrine).
Continuation of Raibhya narrative in 7.7 (piṇḍa-dāna leading into tapas and encounter)
FAQs
The verse situates Gayā within Purāṇic sacred geography as a recognized pitṛ-tīrtha, reflecting the codification of pilgrimage networks and ancestral-rite traditions in medieval Sanskrit literature.
Gayā (गया), commonly identified with the historic pilgrimage center in present-day Bihar, India, long associated in Sanskrit sources with rites for ancestors (piṇḍadāna).
The passage foregrounds filial/ancestral responsibility expressed through disciplined, devotional ritual action—honoring predecessors through culturally sanctioned offerings rather than through coercive or exclusivist claims.
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