Shloka 86

The Greatness of Gayā

Gayā-Māhātmya

Devanagari script

यत्राक्षयो वटो नाम वर्तते लोकविश्रुतः । गयेन यजमानेन तत्रेष्टं क्रतुना पुरा ॥ ८६ ॥

Transliteration

yatrākṣayo vaṭo nāma vartate lokaviśrutaḥ | gayena yajamānena tatreṣṭaṃ kratunā purā || 86 ||

Translation

彼处矗立着世间闻名的榕树，名为“不坏榕”（Akṣaya-vaṭa）；往昔，伽耶作为祭主（yajamāna），就在那地方举行了克罗图（kratu）祭仪。

Word by Word

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: अधिकरण (Locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; स्थानवाचक-अव्यय (where)

• अक्षयः: imperishable
• अक्षयः: विशेषण (of vaṭaḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-क्षय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (masc. nom. sg.)

• वटः: banyan tree
• वटः: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (masc. nom. sg.)

• नाम: named/indeed
• नाम: सम्बन्ध (particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle: 'by name/indeed')

• वर्तते: exists/stands
• वर्तते: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृत् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• लोकविश्रुतः: famous in the world
• लोकविश्रुतः: विशेषण (of vaṭaḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लोक-विश्रुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (लोके विश्रुतः)

• गयेन: by Gaya
• गयेन: कर्ता (Agent in passive/Instrumental agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन (masc. instr. sg.)

• यजमानेन: by the sacrificer
• यजमानेन: कर्ता (Agent in passive/Instrumental agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यजमान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; वर्तमान-कर्तरि-प्रातिपदिक (sacrificer)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: अधिकरण (Locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; स्थानवाचक-अव्यय (there)

• इष्टम्: sacrifice/desired rite
• इष्टम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इष् (धातु) + इष्ट (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP) रूपेण नपुंसकलिङ्ग-प्रातिपदिक; द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (neut. acc. sg.)

• क्रतुना: by a ritual (kratu)
• क्रतुना: करण (Instrument/means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (masc. instr. sg.)

• पुरा: formerly
• पुरा: कालाधिकरण (Temporal adjunct)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb: formerly)

Speaker

Narada (in dialogue context with the Sanatkumara brothers)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Gaya
• Akshaya Vata

FAQs

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

It identifies Akṣaya-vaṭa as a world-famous sacred marker at Gaya and grounds the site’s holiness in ancient Vedic sacrifice performed there, reinforcing Gaya’s status as a powerful tirtha for merit-bearing rites.

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

By pointing to a sanctified place established through sacrificial worship, the verse supports the bhakti-oriented Purāṇic idea that devotion expressed through reverent pilgrimage and worship at holy tirthas becomes a direct means of accruing spiritual merit.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It references the kratu system—formal Vedic ritual practice—implying knowledge of kalpa (ritual procedure) and the role of the yajamāna (sacrificial patron) in correctly conducting sacrificial offerings at a prescribed sacred location.