Shloka 44

प्रेतराजोऽथ वणिजं कंचित्प्राह स्वमुक्तये । गयातीर्थं तु दृष्ट्वा त्वं स्नात्वा शौचसमन्वितः ॥ ४४ ॥

pretarājo'tha vaṇijaṃ kaṃcitprāha svamuktaye | gayātīrthaṃ tu dṛṣṭvā tvaṃ snātvā śaucasamanvitaḥ || 44 ||

अथ प्रेतराजः स्वमुक्तये कञ्चिद्वणिजं प्राह—गयातीर्थं दृष्ट्वा शौचसमन्वितः स्नात्वा त्वं मोक्षं प्राप्स्यसि।

preta-rājaḥthe king of the departed (Yama)
preta-rājaḥ:
Kartā (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootpreta (प्रातिपदिक) + rāja (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (pretānāṃ rājā)
athathen
atha:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootatha (अव्यय)
FormParticle (निपात), sequence
vaṇijama merchant
vaṇijam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootvaṇij (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular
kañcitsome
kañcit:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootkim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; indefinite pronoun used adjectivally
prāhasaid
prāha:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootpra-√ah (धातु)
FormLiṭ (लिट्, perfect), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular
sva-muktayefor (his) own liberation
sva-muktaye:
Sampradāna/Prayojana (सम्प्रदान/प्रयोजन)
TypeNoun
Rootsva (प्रातिपदिक) + mukti (प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular; समासः कर्मधारयः (svā muktiḥ)
gayā-tīrthamthe Gayā pilgrimage-place
gayā-tīrtham:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootgayā (प्रातिपदिक) + tīrtha (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNapumsaka, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (gayāyāḥ tīrtham)
tubut/indeed
tu:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Roottu (अव्यय)
FormParticle (निपात)
dṛṣṭvāhaving seen
dṛṣṭvā:
Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootdṛś (धातु)
FormAbsolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय), having seen
tvamyou
tvam:
Kartā (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootyusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Form2nd person pronoun, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular
snātvāhaving bathed
snātvā:
Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootsnā (धातु)
FormAbsolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय), having bathed
śauca-samanvitaḥendowed with purity
śauca-samanvitaḥ:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootśauca (प्रातिपदिक) + samanvita (प्रातिपदिक; sam-√i + क्त)
FormMasculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; समासः तृतीया-तत्पुरुषः (śaucena samanvitaḥ)

Suta (narrator) reporting the episode; Yama (Pretaraja) is the direct speaker within the verse

Vrata: none

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Y
Yama (Pretaraja)
G
Gaya Tirtha

FAQs

It declares Gayā-tīrtha as a direct means to moksha: merely beholding it and bathing there with proper śauca (purity) is presented as liberating, underscoring the exceptional salvific power of this tirtha in the Uttara-bhāga.

While the verse is framed as a tirtha-instruction, it implies bhakti through reverent darśana (sacred seeing) and disciplined snāna at a Vishnu-associated pilgrimage center like Gayā—external rites performed with faith become a vehicle for inner surrender and release.

It highlights kalpa-oriented ritual practice: śauca (rules of purity) and snāna (ritual bath) as required observances when approaching a tirtha for spiritual results, reflecting applied dharma-vidhi rather than grammar or astrology.