Shloka 81

The Greatness of Gayā

Gayā-Māhātmya

Devanagari script

फल्गुतीर्थं च विख्यातं बहुमुलफलान्वितम् । कौशिकी च नदी यत्र श्राद्धं तत्राक्षयं स्मृतम् ॥ ८१ ॥

Transliteration

phalgutīrthaṃ ca vikhyātaṃ bahumulaphalānvitam | kauśikī ca nadī yatra śrāddhaṃ tatrākṣayaṃ smṛtam || 81 ||

Translation

法尔古圣渡（Phalgutīrtha）闻名遐迩，根茎果实丰饶。又在考希姬河（Kausikī）流经之处，所行施罗陀（Śrāddha）被传为得不尽之功德。

Word by Word

• phalgu-tīrtham: Phalgu-tīrtha
• phalgu-tīrtham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: phalgu (प्रातिपदिक) + tīrtha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (accusative, 2nd), एकवचन (singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘phalgoḥ tīrtham’ (Phalgu river’s tīrtha)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• vikhyātam: well-known
• vikhyātam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi+khya (धातु) → vikhyāta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle, क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (accusative, 2nd), एकवचन (singular); विशेषण of ‘tīrtham’

• bahu-mūla-phala-anvitam: endowed with many roots and fruits
• bahu-mūla-phala-anvitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bahu (प्रातिपदिक) + mūla (प्रातिपदिक) + phala (प्रातिपदिक) + anvita (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (accusative, 2nd), एकवचन (singular); बहुव्रीह्यर्थे न, किन्तु तत्पुरुष-समाहार: ‘bahūni mūlāni phalāni ca yasyāsti/tatra’ → ‘(tīrtham) endowed with many roots and fruits’

• kauśikī: (the river) Kauśikī
• kauśikī: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kauśikī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा (nominative, 1st), एकवचन (singular)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• nadī: river
• nadī: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nadī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा (nominative, 1st), एकवचन (singular); ‘kauśikī’ इत्यस्य apposition

• yatra: where
• yatra: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yatra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), सम्बन्धबोधक देशवाचक (relative locative adverb: ‘where’)

• śrāddham: śrāddha rite
• śrāddham: Karma/Viṣaya (विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrāddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (nom./acc., 1st/2nd), एकवचन (singular); here as विषय (topic) with ‘smṛtam’

• tatra: there
• tatra: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), तत्र-देशवाचक (there)

• akṣayam: imperishable/inexhaustible
• akṣayam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: akṣaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (nom./acc., 1st/2nd), एकवचन (singular); विशेषण of ‘śrāddham’ (understood)

• smṛtam: is considered/said
• smṛtam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: smṛ (धातु) → smṛta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा (nominative, 1st), एकवचन (singular); भावे प्रयोग: ‘is said/remembered (as)’

Speaker

Narada (in dialogue tradition with the Sanatkumara brothers; Uttara-Bhaga tirtha narration)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Phalgutirtha
• Kausiki River
• Shraddha
• Pitrs

FAQs

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

It declares Phalgutirtha and the Kausiki river-region as a potent tirtha where ancestral rites (Śrāddha) generate akṣaya—imperishable, inexhaustible—spiritual merit, emphasizing the purifying power of place in dharmic practice.

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

Though centered on Śrāddha, it supports bhakti-oriented dharma by honoring lineage and the Pitṛs as part of a life aligned with sacred order; pilgrimage and ritual performed with faith are presented as enduring offerings, compatible with Vishnu-bhakti culture of the Purana.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights ritual application (kalpa/śrauta-smārta practice) through the rule that performing Śrāddha at a specific tirtha yields akṣaya-phala—practical guidance on where rites are especially efficacious.