Shloka 12

The Greatness of Gayā

Gayā-Māhātmya

Devanagari script

तस्य देहे लिंग रूपी स्थितः शुद्धः पितामहः । विष्णुवाहार्थमर्यादां पुण्यक्षेत्रं भविष्यति ॥ १२ ॥

Transliteration

tasya dehe liṃga rūpī sthitaḥ śuddhaḥ pitāmahaḥ | viṣṇuvāhārthamaryādāṃ puṇyakṣetraṃ bhaviṣyati || 12 ||

Translation

اُس کے جسم میں لِنگ کی صورت میں پاک پِتامہ (برہما) مقیم ہیں؛ اور وشنو کے واہن کی خاطر قائم کی گئی وہ حد آگے چل کر پُنّیہ کھیتر بنے گی۔

Word by Word

• tasya: of him/its
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• dehe: in the body
• dehe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• liṅga-rūpī: having the form of a liṅga
• liṅga-rūpī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: liṅga (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (having the form of a liṅga)

• sthitaḥ: is situated
• sthitaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √sthā (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘being situated/standing’

• śuddhaḥ: pure
• śuddhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śuddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• pitāmahaḥ: Pitāmaha (Brahmā)
• pitāmahaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitāmaha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• viṣṇu-vāha-artha-maryādām: a boundary/limit for the purpose of Viṣṇu’s mount
• viṣṇu-vāha-artha-maryādām: Karma/Prayojana (कर्म/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक) + vāha (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक) + maryādā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थे (as a boundary/limit for the purpose of Viṣṇu’s vehicle)

• puṇya-kṣetram: a holy field (sacred place)
• puṇya-kṣetram: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṇya (प्रातिपदिक) + kṣetra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• bhaviṣyati: will be
• bhaviṣyati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Narada (within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue framework)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Brahma (Pitamaha)
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It sanctifies a specific place/body as a puṇya-kṣetra by linking it to Brahmā’s pure presence in liṅga-form and to a divinely ordained maryādā (sacred boundary) connected with Viṣṇu.

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

Bhakti is implied through the tirtha-mahātmya lens: reverence for Viṣṇu and honoring divinely marked sacred geography becomes a devotional act that generates puṇya and supports spiritual progress.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects ritual and sacred-space principles (maryādā/demarcation of a kṣetra) relevant to Kalpa (ritual procedure) rather than grammar or astrology—showing how a site is authorized as a pilgrimage field.