Shloka 63

The Greatness of Gayā

Gayā-Māhātmya

Devanagari script

तत्र स्नात्वा दिवं यांति स्वशरीरेण मानवः । दत्तं तत्र सदा श्राद्धमक्षयं समुदाहृतम् ॥ ६३ ॥

Transliteration

tatra snātvā divaṃ yāṃti svaśarīreṇa mānavaḥ | dattaṃ tatra sadā śrāddhamakṣayaṃ samudāhṛtam || 63 ||

Translation

在彼处沐浴者，将以此身直往天界。且在彼处所行的施食祭（Śrāddha），其功德被宣说为常住不坏、永不耗尽。

Word by Word

• tatra: there
• tatra: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (स्थानवाचक)

• snātvā: having bathed
• snātvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √snā (धातु) + ktvā (क्त्वा)
• Form: Kṛdanta; absolutive/gerund (क्त्वान्त), ‘having bathed’

• divam: to heaven
• divam: Karma (कर्म) (gati)
• Type: Noun
• Root: div (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana

• yānti: go
• yānti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √yā (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (लट्, present), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person), Bahuvacana

• sva-śarīreṇa: with one’s own body
• sva-śarīreṇa: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + śarīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Tṛtīyā (3rd/तृतीया), Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष) ‘svasya śarīram’ → instrumental ‘with one’s own body’

• mānavaḥ: a man
• mānavaḥ: Kartṛ (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mānava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana

• dattam: offered
• dattam: Karmaṇi-bhāva (कर्मणि भावः)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dā (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Kṛdanta (past passive participle), kta; Napumsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana; agrees with ‘śrāddham’ (given/offered)

• tatra: there
• tatra: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (स्थानवाचक)

• sadā: always
• sadā: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (कालवाचक)

• śrāddham: Śrāddha rite
• śrāddham: Kartṛ (कर्ता) / Viṣaya (विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrāddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana

• akṣayam: imperishable
• akṣayam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: akṣaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of ‘śrāddham’

• samudāhṛtam: is declared/called
• samudāhṛtam: Karmaṇi-bhāva (कर्मणि भावः)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ud-√āhṛ (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Kṛdanta (past passive participle), kta; Napumsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana; predicate with ‘śrāddham’

Speaker

Suta (narrating the Tirtha-Mahatmya teaching as transmitted in the Purana)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It praises a specific tīrtha: bathing there grants extraordinary post-mortem ascent, and Śrāddha performed there yields akṣaya (inexhaustible) merit, emphasizing the unique sanctity of that place.

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

While framed as tīrtha-mahātmya, it supports bhakti through sacred-place discipline: reverent snāna and sincere ancestral offerings are treated as spiritually potent acts that align one’s life with dharma and sacred remembrance.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is implied: the verse spotlights correct performance of snāna at a tīrtha and Śrāddha (pitṛ-kārya), teaching that place-specific rites can be prescribed as producing akṣaya-phala.