Shloka 31

Tīrtha-Māhātmya: Catalog of Sacred Places and the Supreme Inner Tīrtha

Devanagari script

श्रुत्वाब्रवीद्धरेर्ब्रह्मा व्यासं दक्षादिसंयुतम् / एतान्युक्त्वा च तीर्थानि पुन स्तीर्थोत्तमोत्तमम् / गयाख्यं प्राह सर्वेषामक्षयं ब्रह्मलोकदम्

Transliteration

śrutvābravīddharerbrahmā vyāsaṃ dakṣādisaṃyutam / etānyuktvā ca tīrthāni puna stīrthottamottamam / gayākhyaṃ prāha sarveṣāmakṣayaṃ brahmalokadam

Translation

ଏହା ଶୁଣି ବ୍ରହ୍ମା ଦକ୍ଷାଦି ସହିତ ଥିବା ବ୍ୟାସଙ୍କୁ କହିଲେ। ଏହି ତୀର୍ଥମାନଙ୍କୁ ବର୍ଣ୍ଣନା କରି ପୁନଃ ତୀର୍ଥୋତ୍ତମ ‘ଗୟା’କୁ ସର୍ବଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ ବୋଲି ଘୋଷଣା କଲେ—ଯାହା ସମସ୍ତଙ୍କୁ ଅକ୍ଷୟ ପୁଣ୍ୟ ଓ ବ୍ରହ୍ମଲୋକ ଦେଇଥାଏ।

Word by Word

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (Adverbial modifier of main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभावः; धातु: श्रु (to hear)

• अब्रवीत्: said/spoke
• अब्रवीत्: Kriya (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/past), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम् (singular)

• हरेः: of Hari
• हरेः: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/genitive), एकवचनम्

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन्/ब्रह्मा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/nominative), एकवचनम्

• व्यासम्: Vyāsa
• व्यासम्: Karman (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), एकवचनम्

• दक्षादिसंयुतम्: accompanied by Dakṣa and others
• दक्षादिसंयुतम्: Karman-viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दक्ष + आदि + संयुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; समासः: दक्षादि-सम्युत = ‘joined/associated with Dakṣa and others’; विशेषणम् (qualifying व्यासम्)

• एतानि: these (things)
• एतानि: Karman (Object of ‘having said’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), बहुवचनम्

• उक्त्वा: having said
• उक्त्वा: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभावः; धातु: वच् (to say)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• तीर्थानि: pilgrimage places
• तीर्थानि: Karman (Object; implied ‘mentioned/said’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचनम्

• पुनः: again/further
• पुनः: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• तीर्थोत्तमोत्तमम्: the supreme best of pilgrimage places
• तीर्थोत्तमोत्तमम्: Karman-viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तीर्थ + उत्तम + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; समासः: तीर्थ-उत्तम-उत्तम = ‘the best of the best among tīrthas’; विशेषणम् (qualifying गयाख्यम्)

• गयाख्यम्: called ‘Gayā’
• गयाख्यम्: Karman (Object; ‘(tīrtha) named Gayā’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गया + आख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; समासः: गयाऽऽख्य = ‘named Gayā’; विशेषणम् (implied object of प्राह)

• प्राह: declared/said
• प्राह: Kriya (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + अह्/ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्

• सर्वेषाम्: of all
• सर्वेषाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (genitive), बहुवचनम्

• अक्षयम्: imperishable
• अक्षयम्: Karman-viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + क्षय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (qualifying गयाख्यम्/तीर्थम्)

• ब्रह्मलोकदम्: granting Brahmaloka
• ब्रह्मलोकदम्: Karman-viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्मलोक + द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; समासः: ब्रह्मलोक-द = ‘giver of Brahma-world’; विशेषणम्

Speaker

Narrative attribution: Brahmā (addressing Vyāsa, with Dakṣa and others present).

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Tīrtha-sevā and śraddhā in sacred geography yield akṣaya merit and higher loka attainment.

Vedantic Theme: Sādhana through sattvika karma leading to loka-bhoga; implicit hierarchy of means (tīrtha as purifier) preparing for higher realization.

Application: Undertake pilgrimage with faith, prioritize Gayā among tīrthas, and perform prescribed acts there with purity and intention.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: tirtha/kṣetra (pilgrimage field)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.82 (Gayā-māhātmya commencement); Garuda Purana Pretakalpa sections on śrāddha/phala (general linkage)

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Hari (Viṣṇu)
• Vyāsa
• Dakṣa
• Gayā
• Brahma-loka

FAQs

What is the importance of Gayā in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

This verse elevates Gayā as the ‘tīrthottamottama’—the foremost among holy places—said to grant imperishable (akṣaya) merit and the fruit of Brahma-loka.

How does this verse relate to death rites like śrāddha and piṇḍa-dāna?

By praising Gayā as supremely merit-giving, the text supports the broader Purāṇic practice of performing pitṛ-kārya (ancestral rites) at Gayā, where offerings are traditionally believed to yield enduring spiritual benefit.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat sacred duty (dharma) and remembrance of ancestors as purposeful acts: if pilgrimage is not possible, perform śrāddha with sincerity, charity, and ethical living—aiming for ‘akṣaya’ merit through consistent right conduct.