Shloka 21
The Greatness of Gayā
Gayā-Māhātmya
समुद्राः सरितः सर्वे वापीकूपह्नदास्तथा । स्नातुकामा गयातीर्थं देवि यांति न संशयः ॥ २१ ॥
samudrāḥ saritaḥ sarve vāpīkūpahnadāstathā | snātukāmā gayātīrthaṃ devi yāṃti na saṃśayaḥ || 21 ||
समुद्राः सरितः सर्वे वापीकूपह्रदास्तथा । स्नातुकामा गयातीर्थं देवि यान्ति न संशयः ॥
Narada (addressing Devi)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
FAQs
It proclaims Gayā-tīrtha as so spiritually potent that even the great bodies of water are described as seeking purification there, emphasizing the unrivaled sanctity of Gayā in tirtha-mahātmya.
By glorifying Gayā as a divinely charged tīrtha, the verse supports bhakti-oriented pilgrimage: approaching sacred places with श्रद्धा (faith) and purity-intent is presented as a means of drawing near to the divine.
Ritual practice (kalpa-oriented conduct) is implied through tīrtha-snana: bathing at a prescribed sacred site as a purificatory act within dharma and pilgrimage observances.