Shloka 54

The Greatness of Gayā

Gayā-Māhātmya

Devanagari script

गयायां धर्मपृष्ठे च सदसि ब्रह्मणस्तथा । गयाशीर्थेऽक्षयवटे पितॄणां दत्तमक्षयम् ॥ ५४ ॥

Transliteration

gayāyāṃ dharmapṛṣṭhe ca sadasi brahmaṇastathā | gayāśīrthe'kṣayavaṭe pitṝṇāṃ dattamakṣayam || 54 ||

Translation

В Гае — на Дхармапṛшṭхе, а также в собрании Брахмы; и на Гаяшире, у Акшаяваты — всё, что там приносится питрам (духам предков), становится неистощимым: заслуга этого не убывает.

Word by Word

• गयायाम्: in Gayā
• गयायाम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन

• धर्मपृष्ठे: at Dharma-pṛṣṭha (a sacred spot)
• धर्मपृष्ठे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म-पृष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (धर्मस्य पृष्ठम्/पृष्ठे); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• सदसि: in the assembly/hall
• सदसि: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सदस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ब्रह्मणः: of Brahmā / of a brāhmaṇa (context: Brahmā)
• ब्रह्मणः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/तुल्यत्व (adverb: likewise)

• गयाशीर्थे: at the head/top of Gayā
• गयाशीर्थे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गया-शीर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (गयायाः शीर्षम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अक्षयवटे: at the imperishable banyan (Akṣayavaṭa)
• अक्षयवटे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्षय-वट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (अक्षयः वटः); पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पितॄणाम्: of the ancestors
• पितॄणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• दत्तम्: given/offered
• दत्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अक्षयम्: imperishable
• अक्षयम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अक्षय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (predicate/qualifier of ‘dattam’)

Speaker

Sage Narada (teaching the Sanatkumara brothers in the Uttara-Bhaga tirtha-mahatmya context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Gaya
• Brahma
• Pitrs
• Dharmapristha
• Gayashirsha
• Akshayavata

FAQs

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

It declares Gayā—especially Dharmapṛṣṭha, Brahmā’s sacred assembly, Gayāśiras, and the Akṣayavaṭa—as places where offerings to the Pitṛs yield akṣaya-phala, i.e., undiminishing spiritual merit and lasting benefit to ancestors.

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

While focused on śrāddha, it supports bhakti through reverent service (seva) and faith in tīrtha—performing ancestral rites as dharma dedicated to the divine order, trusting that sacred places preserve and magnify the offering’s fruit.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is implied: the verse identifies specific tīrthas where śrāddha/dāna for Pitṛs is prescribed and said to be especially efficacious, guiding correct ritual location-selection within dharma practice.