Shloka 44
The Greatness of Gayā
Gayā-Māhātmya
प्रेतराजोऽथ वणिजं कंचित्प्राह स्वमुक्तये । गयातीर्थं तु दृष्ट्वा त्वं स्नात्वा शौचसमन्वितः ॥ ४४ ॥
pretarājo'tha vaṇijaṃ kaṃcitprāha svamuktaye | gayātīrthaṃ tu dṛṣṭvā tvaṃ snātvā śaucasamanvitaḥ || 44 ||
அப்போது பிரேதராஜன் யமன் தன் விடுதலைக்காக ஒரு வணிகனிடம் கூறினான்—‘கயா தீர்த்தத்தை தரிசித்து, தூய்மையுடன் அங்கே நீராடினால், நீ முக்தியை அடைவாய்।’
Suta (narrator) reporting the episode; Yama (Pretaraja) is the direct speaker within the verse
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
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.