Shloka 35

The Greatness of Gayā

Gayā-Māhātmya

Devanagari script

त्वया पुनर्मंत्रविदा गयायां पिंडप्रदानेन बलादिमौ च । मोक्षायितौ तीर्थवरप्रभावाद वीचिसंज्ञं नरकं गतौ तौ ॥ ३५ ॥

Transliteration

tvayā punarmaṃtravidā gayāyāṃ piṃḍapradānena balādimau ca | mokṣāyitau tīrthavaraprabhāvāda vīcisaṃjñaṃ narakaṃ gatau tau || 35 ||

Translation

然而你作为通晓真言者，在伽耶行施食团（piṇḍa）之供；凭此最胜圣地（tīrtha）的威力，婆罗与另一人得解脱，二者皆脱离名为“维奇”（Vīci）的地狱。

Word by Word

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), द्वितीयपुरुष-प्रत्ययार्थ (2nd person), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन (Singular)

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• मन्त्रविदा: by the knower of mantras
• मन्त्रविदा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्रविद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular)

• गयायाम्: in Gayā
• गयायाम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन (Singular)

• पिण्ड-प्रदानेन: by the offering of piṇḍa (funeral oblation)
• पिण्ड-प्रदानेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रदान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): पिण्डस्य प्रदानम्

• बलात्: by force; forcibly
• बलात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/अपादान), एकवचन (Singular); अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः (used adverbially)

• इमौ: these two
• इमौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), द्विवचन (Dual)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• मोक्षायितौ: were liberated
• मोक्षायितौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मोक्षय् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त, भूतकर्मणि/भूतकृत्-प्रत्यय (past passive participle sense), प्रथमा-विभक्ति, पुंलिङ्ग, द्विवचन; अर्थः ‘मोक्षं नीतौ/मोचितौ’ (having been liberated)

• तीर्थ-वर-प्रभावात्: due to the power of the excellent tīrtha
• तीर्थ-वर-प्रभावात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + वर (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रभाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-श्रृंखला: तीर्थस्य वरः (श्रेष्ठतीर्थ) तस्य प्रभावः, तस्मात्

• वीचि-संज्ञम्: named ‘Vīci’
• वीचि-संज्ञम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वीचि (प्रातिपदिक) + संज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: वीचि इति संज्ञा यस्य (named ‘Vīci’)

• नरकम्: hell
• नरकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नरक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• गतौ: having gone
• गतौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय (past participle), प्रथमा-विभक्ति, पुंलिङ्ग, द्विवचन; अर्थः ‘गच्छितौ/प्राप्तौ’ (having gone)

• तौ: those two
• तौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), द्विवचन (Dual)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue context with Narada, praising the efficacy of Gayā-śrāddha)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna (compassion)

Secondary Rasa: bhakti (devotion)

Characters & Entities

• Gayā
• Piṇḍa-pradāna
• Tīrtha
• Vīci (Naraka)
• Bala

FAQs

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

It declares that Gayā is a supreme tīrtha where properly performed piṇḍa-dāna (with mantra-knowledge) can liberate departed beings—even those who have fallen into the naraka called Vīci—by the tīrtha’s unique spiritual potency.

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

The verse frames liberation as arising from sacred action done with reverence and right mantra, implying that faith-filled service to a divinely empowered tīrtha (a form of bhakti expressed through śrāddha) becomes a means of grace and release for others.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Mantra-competence and correct ritual performance are emphasized—pointing to Vedāṅga applications such as Vyākaraṇa (accurate recitation/form), Śikṣā (proper phonetics), and Kalpa (ritual procedure) in conducting piṇḍa-dāna at Gayā.