Shloka 55
The Greatness of Gayā
Gayā-Māhātmya
ब्रह्मारण्यं धर्मपृष्ठं धेनुकारण्यमेव च । दृष्ट्वैतानि पितॄंश्चार्च्य वंश्यान्विंशतिमुद्धरेत् ॥ ५५ ॥
brahmāraṇyaṃ dharmapṛṣṭhaṃ dhenukāraṇyameva ca | dṛṣṭvaitāni pitṝṃścārcya vaṃśyānviṃśatimuddharet || 55 ||
既已巡礼梵林 Brahmāraṇya、法背 Dharmapṛṣṭha 及牛林 Dhenukāraṇya，亲见诸圣地，当礼敬供养诸 Pitṛ（祖灵）。由此能拔济自家族系二十代。
Narada (narrating Tirtha-mahatmya teachings; dialogue framed in the Narada–Sanatkumara tradition)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It teaches that certain tirthas carry Pitṛ-śakti (ancestral efficacy): visiting them and performing Pitṛ-pūjā/tarpaṇa is said to generate merit that supports and elevates one’s ancestral line.
Bhakti here appears as reverent action—pilgrimage with श्रद्धा (faith) and worshipful offerings to the Pitṛs—showing that devotion is expressed through dharmic rites connected to sacred geography.
Kalpa (ritual procedure) is implied: the verse points to performing prescribed ancestral worship (Pitṛ-arcana/tarpaṇa) at specific tirthas for defined spiritual results (benefit to “twenty generations”).