Shloka 54
Tīrtha-vidhi (Procedure for Holy Places) — Prayāgarāja-māhātmya
गयादावपि देवेशि श्मश्रूणां वपनं विना । न क्षौरं मुनिभिः सर्वैर्निषिद्धं चेति कीर्तितम् ॥ ५४ ॥
gayādāvapi deveśi śmaśrūṇāṃ vapanaṃ vinā | na kṣauraṃ munibhiḥ sarvairniṣiddhaṃ ceti kīrtitam || 54 ||
اے دیویشِی! گیا میں بھی سر منڈوانا تمام مُنیوں کے نزدیک ممنوع نہیں کہا گیا؛ مگر داڑھی اور مونچھ کا مونڈنا ترک کرنے کے لائق بتایا گیا ہے۔
Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada; verse addresses 'Deveśi' indicating a narrated citation within the tīrtha-context)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
FAQs
It clarifies a rule of tīrtha-dharma: at Gayā, head-tonsure is generally permitted as part of pilgrimage/śrāddha-related purity, but shaving the beard/moustache is singled out as an exception to be avoided, preserving a specific standard of ritual decorum.
Bhakti here is expressed through disciplined observance—honoring the sages’ injunctions while performing tīrtha rites. The verse frames devotion as careful alignment of bodily conduct (śauca/ācāra) with sacred tradition during pilgrimage.
Kalpa (ritual procedure) is implicit: it distinguishes permitted vs. restricted forms of kṣaura during tīrtha observances, guiding correct performance of pilgrimage and ancillary rites such as śrāddha.