Shloka 7

Gayā-māhātmya: Gayāsura, Viṣṇu’s Establishment, and the Fruits of Śrāddha at Gayā

Devanagari script

जनार्दनश्च कालेशस्तथान्यः प्रपितामहः / विष्णुराहाथ मर्यादां पुण्यक्षेत्रं भविष्यति

Transliteration

janārdanaśca kāleśastathānyaḥ prapitāmahaḥ / viṣṇurāhātha maryādāṃ puṇyakṣetraṃ bhaviṣyati

Translation

“阇那尔达那，时间之主；亦是古老的先祖（Prapitāmaha）。”——如是称说。随后毗湿奴宣言：“在此界限之内，此地将成为福德圣域（puṇya-kṣetra），朝圣之田。”

Word by Word

• जनार्दनः: Janārdana (Viṣṇu)
• जनार्दनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनार्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• कालेशः: Kāleśa (Lord of Time)
• कालेशः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कालेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारवाचक (adverb: likewise/so)

• अन्यः: another
• अन्यः: Visheshana (Adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying प्रपितामहः)

• प्रपितामहः: Prapitāmaha (great-grandfather; a title)
• प्रपितामहः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रपितामह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• विष्णुः: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• आह: said
• आह: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अह्/ब्रू (धातु; said)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘आह’ (he said)

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (Discourse connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अनन्तरार्थक (particle: then/now)

• मर्यादाम्: a boundary; limit; rule
• मर्यादाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मर्यादा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• पुण्यक्षेत्रम्: holy field; sacred place
• पुण्यक्षेत्रम्: Karma (Object complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक) + क्षेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: पुण्यं क्षेत्रम्

• भविष्यति: will become
• भविष्यति: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple future), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra in the Garuda Purana dialogue frame)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Sacred geography is constituted by divine ordinance; honoring kṣetra-maryādā is itself dharmic alignment.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara as Kāla (time) and Niyantā (order-giver); dharma as participation in cosmic order.

Application: Respect pilgrimage protocols and local sacred boundaries; treat consecrated spaces with restraint, cleanliness, and mindful conduct.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: kṣetra with defined maryādā (bounds)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.82.8 (acts within the kṣetra yield heavenly results)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu (Janardana)
• Kalesha (Lord of Time)
• Prapitamaha (Forefather epithet)

FAQs

What is the importance of a puṇya-kṣetra in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames a puṇya-kṣetra as a spiritually charged “field of merit,” established by divine ordinance, where actions performed within its sacred bounds yield heightened religious merit.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by emphasizing sacred boundaries and holy places, it supports the Garuda Purana’s broader ritual logic—merit gained through dharmic acts (often including rites for ancestors) aids the soul’s auspicious progress.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat sacred spaces with discipline: perform worship, charity, and ancestral offerings with purity and restraint within recognized tirtha-kṣetras, understanding that intention plus proper place amplifies dharmic results.