The Procedure for Offering Piṇḍa (Funerary Rice-balls) — Gayā-māhātmya
स्नातः कनकवद्भाति नरो याति पवित्रताम् । अतः कनखलं लोके ख्यातं तीर्थमनुत्तमम् ॥ ७६ ॥
snātaḥ kanakavadbhāti naro yāti pavitratām | ataḥ kanakhalaṃ loke khyātaṃ tīrthamanuttamam || 76 ||
ผู้ใดอาบน้ำศักดิ์สิทธิ์ที่นั่น ย่อมส่องประกายดุจทองคำและบรรลุความบริสุทธิ์ ดังนั้นกนขละจึงเลื่องลือในโลกว่าเป็นตีรถะอันยอดยิ่ง॥๗๖॥
Narada
Vrata: none
Rasa: {"primary_rasa":"shanta","secondary_rasa":"adbhuta","emotional_journey":"From the simple act of bathing arises a wonder-like transformation—one ‘shines like gold’—ending in a confident proclamation of the tīrtha’s unsurpassed fame."}
It declares that bathing at Kanakhala grants inner and outer purification, making the pilgrim “shine like gold,” and affirms Kanakhala’s status as an incomparable tīrtha.
While not naming a deity here, it supports bhakti-oriented pilgrimage practice: approaching a tīrtha with faith and bathing as an act of reverence that purifies the devotee and prepares the mind for devotion.
Ritual practice (kalpa-oriented conduct) is implied: tīrtha-snana as a purificatory act (śauca) within dharma, emphasizing correct observance of sacred bathing during pilgrimage.