Shloka 33

The Procedure for Offering Piṇḍa (Funerary Rice-balls) — Gayā-māhātmya

Devanagari script

गयां दृष्ट्वा तु सुभगे महापापोऽपि पातकी । पूतः कृत्याधिकारी च श्राद्धकृद्ब्रह्मलोकभाक् ॥ ३३ ॥

Transliteration

gayāṃ dṛṣṭvā tu subhage mahāpāpo'pi pātakī | pūtaḥ kṛtyādhikārī ca śrāddhakṛdbrahmalokabhāk || 33 ||

Translation

Hỡi người hữu phúc, dù là kẻ tội lỗi nặng nề, chỉ cần được thấy Gayā cũng liền được thanh tịnh; người ấy trở nên xứng đáng cử hành các nghi lễ tổ tiên theo pháp, và ai làm lễ śrāddha tại đó sẽ đạt đến cõi Phạm Thiên (Brahmā-loka).

Word by Word

• गयाम्: Gaya (holy place)
• गयाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund), ‘having seen’

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विरोध/अन्वयार्थे ‘but/indeed’

• सुभगे: in the auspicious (place)
• सुभगे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुभग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; संबोधनार्थे/स्थाननिर्देशे ‘in/at the auspicious (place)’

• महापापः: a great sinner
• महापापः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महापाप (प्रातिपदिक: महा + पाप)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), समुच्चय/अपवादार्थे ‘even/also’

• पातकी: a wicked man/sinner
• पातकी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पातकिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पूतः: purified
• पूतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूत (प्रातिपदिक; √पू ‘to purify’ से क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle)

• कृत्याधिकारी: one entitled to perform rites
• कृत्याधिकारी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृत्य + अधिकारी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘of rites’ + ‘entitled’)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• श्राद्धकृत्: performer of śrāddha
• श्राद्धकृत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध + कृत् (प्रातिपदिक; √कृ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (‘śrāddha’ + ‘doer’)

• ब्रह्मलोकभाक्: attainer of Brahmaloka
• ब्रह्मलोकभाक्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मलोक + भाक् (प्रातिपदिक; √भज् ‘to partake’ से)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (‘Brahma-world’ + ‘partaker/attainer’)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the Uttara-Bhaga tirtha-mahatmya dialogue)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Gaya
• Brahmaloka
• Shraddha

FAQs

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

It declares the extraordinary purifying power of Gayā: mere darśana (seeing the tīrtha) cleanses even grave sin, and performing śrāddha there grants exalted post-mortem merit culminating in Brahmaloka.

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

By emphasizing tīrtha-darśana and śrāddha as sacred acts done with faith (śraddhā), it frames devotion as reverent participation in dharmic worship and ancestral offerings at a Viṣṇu-associated pilgrimage center (Gayā is widely upheld in Purāṇic tradition as a premier śrāddha-tīrtha).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual application (kalpa/śrauta-smārta procedure) is implied: the verse stresses adhikāra (eligibility) for kṛtya—especially pitṛ-karman like śrāddha—showing how correct rite-performance at a designated tīrtha is central to Purāṇic dharma practice.