Shloka 9

Gayā-māhātmya: Gayāsura, Viṣṇu’s Establishment, and the Fruits of Śrāddha at Gayā

Devanagari script

गयातीर्थं परं ज्ञात्वा यागं चक्रे पितामहः / ब्राह्मणान्पूजयामास ऋत्विगर्थमुपागतान्

Transliteration

gayātīrthaṃ paraṃ jñātvā yāgaṃ cakre pitāmahaḥ / brāhmaṇānpūjayāmāsa ṛtvigarthamupāgatān

Translation

เมื่อทรงทราบว่าคยาตีรถะเป็นยอดยิ่ง พระปิตามหะจึงประกอบยัญญะ และทรงบูชาให้เกียรติพราหมณ์ผู้มาถึงเพื่อทำหน้าที่เป็นฤตวิช (ปุโรหิตผู้ประกอบพิธี)

Word by Word

• गयातीर्थम्: the Gayā pilgrimage-place
• गयातीर्थम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गया (प्रातिपदिक) + तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: गयायाः तीर्थम्

• परम्: supreme; excellent
• परम्: Visheshana (Adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying गयातीर्थम्)

• ज्ञात्वा: having known
• ज्ञात्वा: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial participle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• यागम्: a sacrifice; worship
• यागम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: याग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• चक्रे: performed
• चक्रे: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• पितामहः: Pitāmaha (Brahmā)
• पितामहः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितामह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ब्राह्मणान्: Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• पूजयामास: honoured; worshipped
• पूजयामास: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Periphrastic perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; (पूजयाम् + आस)

• ऋत्विगर्थम्: for the purpose of (having) priests
• ऋत्विगर्थम्: Prayojana (Purpose/अर्थ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋत्विज् (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ऋत्विजः अर्थः (for the purpose of priests)

• उपागतान्: who had come; arrived
• उपागतान्: Visheshana (Adjective of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उप-आ-गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past active participle in sense of ‘arrived’), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ब्राह्मणान्)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Tīrtha-recognition (jñāna of kṣetra-māhātmya) should flower into yajña and honoring of officiants; dharma is enacted through respectful reciprocity.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-yoga orientation: right action with reverence; honoring knowers/ritviks as honoring the Veda (śruti-smṛti saṅgati).

Application: Support qualified priests/teachers ethically; when performing rites, ensure proper hospitality (dakṣiṇā, respect) and procedural integrity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: tīrtha/sacrificial site

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.82.8 (yajña/śrāddha fruits)

Characters & Entities

• Gayā-tīrtha
• Pitāmaha (Brahmā)
• Brāhmaṇas
• Ṛtviks

FAQs

What is the importance of Gayā-tīrtha in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents Gayā-tīrtha as “supreme,” highlighting it as a foremost sacred place for conducting pitṛ-related rites and yajñas with proper priestly assistance.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it emphasizes that correct ritual action—performed at revered tīrthas and supported by qualified priests—forms part of the dharmic framework believed to aid departed ancestors and uphold cosmic order.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If performing śrāddha or ancestral rites, choose authentic procedures, respect and compensate qualified priests, and treat the ritual as a disciplined act of gratitude and duty rather than mere formality.