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Shloka 31

Tīrtha-Māhātmya: Catalog of Sacred Places and the Supreme Inner Tīrtha

Devanagari script

श्रुत्वाब्रवीद्धरेर्ब्रह्मा व्यासं दक्षादिसंयुतम् / एतान्युक्त्वा च तीर्थानि पुन स्तीर्थोत्तमोत्तमम् / गयाख्यं प्राह सर्वेषामक्षयं ब्रह्मलोकदम्

Transliteration

śrutvābravīddharerbrahmā vyāsaṃ dakṣādisaṃyutam / etānyuktvā ca tīrthāni puna stīrthottamottamam / gayākhyaṃ prāha sarveṣāmakṣayaṃ brahmalokadam

Translation

அவற்றைக் கேட்ட பிரம்மா, தக்ஷன் முதலியோருடன் இருந்த வியாசரிடம் உரைத்தார். இத்தீர்த்தங்களை விளக்கி, மீண்டும் தீर्थங்களில் உத்தமமான ‘கயா’வைச் சொன்னார்—அது அனைவருக்கும் அழியாப் புண்ணியத்தை அளித்து, பிரம்மலோகத்தை வழங்கும் என।

Word by Word
श्रुत्वाhaving heard
श्रुत्वा:
Kriya-visheṣaṇa (Adverbial modifier of main verb)
TypeVerb
Rootश्रु (धातु)
Formक्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभावः; धातु: श्रु (to hear)
अब्रवीत्said/spoke
अब्रवीत्:
Kriya (Main verb)
TypeVerb
Rootब्रू (धातु)
Formलङ् (Imperfect/past), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम् (singular)
हरेःof Hari
हरेः:
Sambandha (Genitive relation)
TypeNoun
Rootहरि (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/genitive), एकवचनम्
ब्रह्माBrahmā
ब्रह्मा:
Karta (Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootब्रह्मन्/ब्रह्मा (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/nominative), एकवचनम्
व्यासम्Vyāsa
व्यासम्:
Karman (Object)
TypeNoun
Rootव्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), एकवचनम्
दक्षादिसंयुतम्accompanied by Dakṣa and others
दक्षादिसंयुतम्:
Karman-viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier of object)
TypeAdjective
Rootदक्ष + आदि + संयुत (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; समासः: दक्षादि-सम्युत = ‘joined/associated with Dakṣa and others’; विशेषणम् (qualifying व्यासम्)
एतानिthese (things)
एतानि:
Karman (Object of ‘having said’)
TypeNoun
Rootएतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), बहुवचनम्
उक्त्वाhaving said
उक्त्वा:
Kriya-visheṣaṇa (Adverbial modifier)
TypeVerb
Rootवच् (धातु)
Formक्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभावः; धातु: वच् (to say)
चand
च:
Samuccaya (Connector)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)
तीर्थानिpilgrimage places
तीर्थानि:
Karman (Object; implied ‘mentioned/said’)
TypeNoun
Rootतीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचनम्
पुनःagain/further
पुनः:
Kriya-visheṣaṇa (Adverbial)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootपुनः (अव्यय)
Formक्रियाविशेषण (adverb)
तीर्थोत्तमोत्तमम्the supreme best of pilgrimage places
तीर्थोत्तमोत्तमम्:
Karman-viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier of object)
TypeAdjective
Rootतीर्थ + उत्तम + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; समासः: तीर्थ-उत्तम-उत्तम = ‘the best of the best among tīrthas’; विशेषणम् (qualifying गयाख्यम्)
गयाख्यम्called ‘Gayā’
गयाख्यम्:
Karman (Object; ‘(tīrtha) named Gayā’)
TypeAdjective
Rootगया + आख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; समासः: गयाऽऽख्य = ‘named Gayā’; विशेषणम् (implied object of प्राह)
प्राहdeclared/said
प्राह:
Kriya (Main verb)
TypeVerb
Rootप्र + अह्/ब्रू (धातु)
Formलिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्
सर्वेषाम्of all
सर्वेषाम्:
Sambandha (Genitive relation)
TypeNoun
Rootसर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (genitive), बहुवचनम्
अक्षयम्imperishable
अक्षयम्:
Karman-viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier of object)
TypeAdjective
Rootअ + क्षय (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (qualifying गयाख्यम्/तीर्थम्)
ब्रह्मलोकदम्granting Brahmaloka
ब्रह्मलोकदम्:
Karman-viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier of object)
TypeAdjective
Rootब्रह्मलोक + द (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; समासः: ब्रह्मलोक-द = ‘giver of Brahma-world’; विशेषणम्
Speaker

Narrative attribution: Brahmā (addressing Vyāsa, with Dakṣa and others present).

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Tīrtha-sevā and śraddhā in sacred geography yield akṣaya merit and higher loka attainment.

Vedantic Theme: Sādhana through sattvika karma leading to loka-bhoga; implicit hierarchy of means (tīrtha as purifier) preparing for higher realization.

Application: Undertake pilgrimage with faith, prioritize Gayā among tīrthas, and perform prescribed acts there with purity and intention.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: tirtha/kṣetra (pilgrimage field)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.82 (Gayā-māhātmya commencement); Garuda Purana Pretakalpa sections on śrāddha/phala (general linkage)

Characters & Entities
B
Brahmā
H
Hari (Viṣṇu)
V
Vyāsa
D
Dakṣa
G
Gayā
B
Brahma-loka

FAQs

This verse elevates Gayā as the ‘tīrthottamottama’—the foremost among holy places—said to grant imperishable (akṣaya) merit and the fruit of Brahma-loka.

By praising Gayā as supremely merit-giving, the text supports the broader Purāṇic practice of performing pitṛ-kārya (ancestral rites) at Gayā, where offerings are traditionally believed to yield enduring spiritual benefit.

Treat sacred duty (dharma) and remembrance of ancestors as purposeful acts: if pilgrimage is not possible, perform śrāddha with sincerity, charity, and ethical living—aiming for ‘akṣaya’ merit through consistent right conduct.

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