Shloka 23
The Greatness of Gayā
Gayā-Māhātmya
असंस्कृता मृता ये च पशुभिः प्रहताश्च ये । सर्पदष्टा गयाश्राद्धान्मुक्ताः स्वर्गं व्रजन्ति ते ॥ २३ ॥
asaṃskṛtā mṛtā ye ca paśubhiḥ prahatāśca ye | sarpadaṣṭā gayāśrāddhānmuktāḥ svargaṃ vrajanti te || 23 ||
Mereka yang mati tanpa saṃskāra yang sempurna, mereka yang dibunuh oleh binatang, dan mereka yang dipatuk ular—melalui śrāddha di Gayā mereka dibebaskan lalu menuju ke syurga.
Suta (narrating the Gayā-māhātmya section of the Nārada Purāṇa)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
It declares the exceptional purifying power of Gayā-Śrāddha: even those who died in distressing or irregular circumstances, including without proper saṃskāras, are said to be released and attain svarga through this rite.
Bhakti is implied through faith in a sacred tīrtha and performance of śrāddha as an act of dharma offered with reverence; the verse emphasizes grace mediated through a holy place and prescribed rite rather than personal merit alone.
It highlights Kalpa (ritual procedure) via śrāddha and saṃskāra principles—showing the importance of correct funeral/ancestral rites and the remedial role of tīrtha-śrāddha when such rites were absent or death was untimely.