Shloka 33
The Greatness of Gayā
Gayā-Māhātmya
एतेन कृष्णेन हता पुरा वै जन्मन्यनेका ऋषयः पुराणाः । एतौ स्मृतौ द्वावपि पितृपुत्रौ अवीचिसंज्ञं नरकं प्रविष्टौ ॥ ३३ ॥
etena kṛṣṇena hatā purā vai janmanyanekā ṛṣayaḥ purāṇāḥ | etau smṛtau dvāvapi pitṛputrau avīcisaṃjñaṃ narakaṃ praviṣṭau || 33 ||
एतेन कृष्णेन पुरा वै नानाजन्मसु पुराणाः ऋषयः अनेकाः हताः। एतौ स्मृतौ पितृपुत्रौ उभौ अवीचिसंज्ञं नरकं प्रविष्टौ।
Narada (narrating consequences of grave sins within the Uttara-Bhaga’s naraka descriptions)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: raudra
FAQs
It underscores the Purāṇic law of karma: violence against holy persons (ṛṣis) is a grave transgression whose momentum can follow one across births, culminating in severe post-mortem suffering such as Avīci.
By highlighting the catastrophic end of irreverence and cruelty toward sages, the verse indirectly points to bhakti and sat-saṅga (reverence for saints) as safeguards—devotion is sustained through honoring dharma and the devotees of the Divine.
The practical takeaway is dharma-śāstric ethics rather than a technical Vedāṅga: one must avoid guru/ṛṣi-apacāra (offense to sages) and follow prescribed prayāścitta and righteous conduct to prevent karmic downfall.