Shloka 54
Tīrtha-vidhi (Procedure for Holy Places) — Prayāgarāja-māhātmya
गयादावपि देवेशि श्मश्रूणां वपनं विना । न क्षौरं मुनिभिः सर्वैर्निषिद्धं चेति कीर्तितम् ॥ ५४ ॥
gayādāvapi deveśi śmaśrūṇāṃ vapanaṃ vinā | na kṣauraṃ munibhiḥ sarvairniṣiddhaṃ ceti kīrtitam || 54 ||
देवेशि, गयायामपि शिरःक्षौरं सर्वैर्मुनिभिर्न निषिद्धमिति कीर्त्यते; केवलं श्मश्रु-उपश्मश्रुवपनं त्याज्यमिति निर्दिष्टम्॥
Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada; verse addresses 'Deveśi' indicating a narrated citation within the tīrtha-context)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
FAQs
It clarifies a rule of tīrtha-dharma: at Gayā, head-tonsure is generally permitted as part of pilgrimage/śrāddha-related purity, but shaving the beard/moustache is singled out as an exception to be avoided, preserving a specific standard of ritual decorum.
Bhakti here is expressed through disciplined observance—honoring the sages’ injunctions while performing tīrtha rites. The verse frames devotion as careful alignment of bodily conduct (śauca/ācāra) with sacred tradition during pilgrimage.
Kalpa (ritual procedure) is implicit: it distinguishes permitted vs. restricted forms of kṣaura during tīrtha observances, guiding correct performance of pilgrimage and ancillary rites such as śrāddha.