Shloka 24

The Greatness of Gayā

Gayā-Māhātmya

Devanagari script

गयायां पिंडदानेन यत्फलं लभते नरः । न तच्छक्यं मया वक्तुं कल्पकोटिशतैरपि ॥ २४ ॥

Transliteration

gayāyāṃ piṃḍadānena yatphalaṃ labhate naraḥ | na tacchakyaṃ mayā vaktuṃ kalpakoṭiśatairapi || 24 ||

Translation

Phước đức mà người ta đạt được khi dâng piṇḍa tại Gayā, ta không thể nói hết—dẫu trải qua hàng trăm ức kiếp (kalpa) cũng không thể tả.

Word by Word

• गयायाम्: in Gayā
• गयायाम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन

• पिण्ड-दानॆन: by offering piṇḍas (funeral oblations)
• पिण्ड-दानॆन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड + दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: पिण्डस्य दानेन)

• यत्-फलम्: whatever result
• यत्-फलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (यत् फलम् = which fruit/result)

• लभते: obtains
• लभते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √लभ् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• नरः: a man/person
• नरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (not)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (that)

• शक्यम्: possible
• शक्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शक्य (कृदन्त; √शक् + यत्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (predicative), यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (able/possible)

• मया: by me
• मया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, तृतीया (3), एकवचन

• वक्तुम्: to say
• वक्तुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय-रूप (infinitive); कर्तृ/कर्म-सम्बन्धे (to speak)

• कल्प-कोटि-शतैः: even by hundreds of crores of aeons
• कल्प-कोटि-शतैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कल्प + कोटि + शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः/परिमाणनिर्देशः: कल्पानां कोटि-शतानि; instrumental: by hundreds of crores of kalpas)

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण/समुच्चय (even/also)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Gayā

FAQs

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

It proclaims the immeasurable (anirvacanīya) merit of performing piṇḍa-dāna at the Gayā tīrtha, elevating it as an exceptionally powerful act of pitṛ-kārya (ancestral rite) whose fruit surpasses ordinary description.

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

By exalting a tīrtha-rite tied to śraddhā (faith) and sacred intention, the verse supports bhakti through reverent action—devotion expressed as dharmic service to pitṛs within a holy field (tīrtha), which is traditionally connected with remembrance of the Divine and surrender to sacred order.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual application (Kalpa—śrāddha/antyeṣṭi-related procedure) is implied: the act of piṇḍa-dāna at a designated tīrtha and its phala-śruti (statement of merit), guiding correct performance and motivation in ancestral rites.