Shloka 61

The Greatness of Gayā

Gayā-Māhātmya

Devanagari script

अल्पेनाप्यत्र कालेन नरो धर्मपुरायणः । पाप्मनमुत्सृजन्याशु जीर्णांत्वचमिवोरगः ॥ ६१ ॥

Transliteration

alpenāpyatra kālena naro dharmapurāyaṇaḥ | pāpmanamutsṛjanyāśu jīrṇāṃtvacamivoragaḥ || 61 ||

Translation

Kahit sa maikling panahon dito, ang taong nakatuon sa Dharma-Purāṇa ay agad na nagwawaksi ng kasalanan—gaya ng ahas na naglalagas ng lumang balat.

Word by Word

• alpena: with little (short)
• alpena: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: alpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga/Napumsaka, Tṛtīyā (3rd/तृतीया), Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of ‘kālena’

• api: even
• api: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; particle (अपि) = ‘even/also’

• atra: here
• atra: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atra (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; deictic adverb (स्थानवाचक)

• kālena: in/with time
• kālena: Kāla-karaṇa (कालकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd/तृतीया), Ekavacana; instrumental of time-span

• naraḥ: a man
• naraḥ: Kartṛ (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana

• dharma-purāyaṇaḥ: devoted to dharma
• dharma-purāyaṇaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + purāyaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa (सप्तमी/विषय-निर्देशक) ‘dharme purāyaṇaḥ’ = devoted to dharma; viśeṣaṇa of ‘naraḥ’

• pāpmanam: sin/evil
• pāpmanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāpman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana

• utsṛjan: casting off
• utsṛjan: Kartṛ (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud-√sṛj (धातु) + śatṛ (शतृ)
• Form: Kṛdanta (present active participle), śatṛ; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; agrees with ‘naraḥ’

• āśu: quickly
• āśu: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: āśu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• jīrṇām: worn-out
• jīrṇām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jīrṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of ‘tvacam’

• tvacam: skin
• tvacam: Karma (कर्म) (upamāna-context)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvac (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana

• iva: like
• iva: Upamā-dyotaka (उपमाद्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; upamā-vācaka particle (उपमावाचक)

• uragaḥ: a snake
• uragaḥ: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: uraga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana; upamāna (standard of comparison)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in the Uttara-Bhaga context of tirtha-mahatmya and purana-śravaṇa praise)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Rasa: {"primary_rasa":"shanta","secondary_rasa":"bhakti","emotional_journey":"Assurance and calm confidence: quick purification is promised, illustrated by the vivid, relieving image of a serpent shedding old skin."}

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in Narada Purana?

It teaches that sincere absorption in Dharma-Purāṇa—especially hearing/reciting it in a sacred setting—produces rapid purification, with sin falling away naturally like a discarded skin.

How does this verse explain the path of devotion (Bhakti)?

By praising steadfast engagement with sacred narration (Purāṇa), it points to śravaṇa (devotional listening) and dharma-niṣṭhā as direct means to inner cleansing, preparing the heart for Vishnu-bhakti and higher realization.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The practical takeaway aligns with Kalpa (ritual procedure) and Dharma-śāstra orientation: regular śravaṇa/pāṭha of dharmic Purāṇas as an applied discipline for pāpa-kṣaya, rather than a technical rule of grammar or astrology.