Shloka 56

The Greatness of Gayā

Gayā-Māhātmya

Devanagari script

महाकल्पकृतं पापं गयां प्राप्य विनश्यति । गवि गृध्रवटे चैव श्राद्धं दत्तं महाफलम् ॥ ५६ ॥

Transliteration

mahākalpakṛtaṃ pāpaṃ gayāṃ prāpya vinaśyati | gavi gṛdhravaṭe caiva śrāddhaṃ dattaṃ mahāphalam || 56 ||

Translation

महाकल्पकृतं पापं गयां प्राप्य विनश्यति; गवौ गृध्रवटे चैव दत्तं श्राद्धं महाफलप्रदम्।

Word by Word

• महाकल्पकृतम्: done over a great aeon (very long)
• महाकल्पकृतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाकल्प-कृत (प्रातिपदिक; महा + कल्प + कृत)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (महाकल्पेन कृतम्)

• पापम्: sin
• पापम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• गयाम्: Gayā (to Gayā)
• गयाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• प्राप्य: having reached
• प्राप्य: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-आप् (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), ‘having reached’

• विनश्यति: perishes/is destroyed
• विनश्यति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-नश् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• गवि: at/among the cow (place named Gavi)
• गवि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन; ‘गो’ शब्दस्य सप्तमी एकवचन रूपम्

• गृध्रवटे: at Gṛdhravaṭa (vulture-banyan)
• गृध्रवटे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृध्र-वट (प्रातिपदिक; गृध्र + वट)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (गृध्रस्य वटः)

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक

• एव: indeed
• एव: Modifier (विशेषक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक

• श्राद्धम्: śrāddha rite
• श्राद्धम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• दत्तम्: offered
• दत्तम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘given/offered’

• महाफलम्: of great fruit/result
• महाफलम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा-फल (प्रातिपदिक; महा + फल)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (महच्च तत् फलम्)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in the Gayā-māhātmya context, traditionally within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue frame)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Gayā
• Gṛdhravaṭa
• Pitṛs (ancestors)

FAQs

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

It declares Gayā as a supremely purifying tīrtha where even long-accumulated sins are destroyed, and it elevates Śrāddha at specific Gayā-related sites as exceptionally fruitful for dharma and ancestral welfare.

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

While centered on tīrtha and Śrāddha, it supports bhakti in practice by directing devotees to sacred places and faith-filled offerings (śraddhā) that align one’s actions with dharma and reverence for the divine order sustaining ancestors and descendants.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual application (Kalpa/Śrauta–Gṛhya orientation) is implied: performing Śrāddha correctly at prescribed tīrthas is presented as a rule-based dharmic act producing specific results (phala).