Shloka 6

The Greatness of Gayā

Gayā-Māhātmya

Devanagari script

यजेत वाश्वमेधेन नीलं वा वृषमुत्सृजेत् । सारात्सारतरं देवि गयामाहात्म्यमुत्तमम् ॥ ६ ॥

Transliteration

yajeta vāśvamedhena nīlaṃ vā vṛṣamutsṛjet | sārātsārataraṃ devi gayāmāhātmyamuttamam || 6 ||

Translation

ଅଶ୍ୱମେଧ ଯଜ୍ଞ କରାଯାଉ କିମ୍ବା ନୀଳବର୍ଣ୍ଣ ବୃଷଭକୁ ଉତ୍ସର୍ଗ କରାଯାଉ; ତଥାପି, ହେ ଦେବି, ଗୟାମାହାତ୍ମ୍ୟ ସର୍ବୋତ୍ତମ—ସମସ୍ତ ପୁଣ୍ୟର ସାରଠାରୁ ମଧ୍ୟ ଅଧିକ ସାରଭୂତ।

Word by Word

• यजेत: should sacrifice
• यजेत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: यज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक (disjunctive particle: “or”)

• अश्वमेधेन: by the Aśvamedha sacrifice
• अश्वमेधेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्वमेध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (अश्वस्य मेधः)

• नीलम्: blue/dark
• नीलम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नील (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक (or)

• वृषम्: a bull
• वृषम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• उत्सृजेत्: should release/let loose
• उत्सृजेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उत्-√सृज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सारात्: from/than the essence
• सारात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; तुलना-प्रयोग (from/than essence)

• सारतरम्: more excellent
• सारतरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सारतर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तरप्-प्रत्यय (comparative: “more excellent”)

• देवि: O goddess
• देवि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• गयामाहात्म्यम्: the greatness of Gayā
• गयामाहात्म्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गया + माहात्म्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (गयायाः माहात्म्यम्)

• उत्तमम्: supreme
• उत्तमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Devi
• Gaya
• Ashvamedha

FAQs

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

It elevates the Gaya-Māhātmya as a supremely potent source of puṇya, presenting Gayā’s tīrtha-glory as surpassing even famed Vedic merit-producing rites.

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

By emphasizing the greatness of a sacred tīrtha associated with worship and remembrance, it points to accessible, faith-centered merit—where reverence for holy places and their divine significance supports devotion beyond costly royal sacrifices.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It references śrauta-style ritual merit (Aśvamedha) and a dāna-type rite (vṛṣotsarga), underscoring practical karma-kāṇḍa knowledge—how specific yajñas and gifts are traditionally regarded in dharma-śāstric practice.