Shloka 5

The Procedure for Offering Piṇḍa (Funerary Rice-balls) — Gayā-māhātmya

Devanagari script

वामदेवः स्वयं भूयाद्वामतीर्थं ततः स्मृतम् । प्रार्थितोऽथ महानद्यां रामस्नातोऽभवद्यदा ॥ ५ ॥

Transliteration

vāmadevaḥ svayaṃ bhūyādvāmatīrthaṃ tataḥ smṛtam | prārthito'tha mahānadyāṃ rāmasnāto'bhavadyadā || 5 ||

Translation

ସେଠାରେ ସ୍ୱୟଂ ବାମଦେବ ପ୍ରକଟ ହେଲେ; ତେଣୁ ସେ ସ୍ଥାନ ‘ବାମତୀର୍ଥ’ ବୋଲି ସ୍ମରଣୀୟ। ଏବଂ ପ୍ରାର୍ଥିତ ହେବା ପରେ, ସେହି ସମୟରେ ରାମ ମହାନଦୀରେ ପବିତ୍ର ସ୍ନାନ କଲେ।

Word by Word

वामदेवःVāmadeva

स्वयम्himself

भूयात्may become/should be

वामतीर्थम्the Vāma-tīrtha

ततःthereupon/therefore

स्मृतम्is called/known as

प्रार्थितःhaving been requested

अथthen

महानद्याम्in the Mahānadī (river)

रामस्नातःbathed at Rāma (tīrtha)

अभवत्became/was

यदाwhen

Speaker

Suta (narrating Purāṇic account; Uttara-bhāga tirtha-mahātmya style)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

Vāmadeva

Vāmatīrtha

Rāma

Mahānadī (great river)

FAQs

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

It grounds the sanctity of Vāmatīrtha in a direct manifestation of Vāmadeva and links the site to Rāma’s purifying river-bath, establishing the tīrtha as a place where divine presence and ritual purification converge.

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

Bhakti is implied through remembrance (smṛti) of the sacred event and honoring the tīrtha: devotees approach holy places with reverence, request blessings, and perform snāna as an outward act of inner surrender and faith.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes ritual practice (snāna at a tīrtha) rather than a specific Vedāṅga; it aligns most with Kalpa-style conduct—proper performance of purificatory rites connected to sacred geography.