Vayu Purana — Uttarardha — Chapter 43

VaP 2 43.1

।।वायुरुवाच।। अत ऊर्द्ध्वं प्रवक्ष्यामि गयामाहात्म्यमुत्तमम्। यच्छ्रुत्वा सर्व्वपापेभ्यो मुच्यते नात्रसंशयः

||vāyuruvāca|| ata ūrddhvaṃ pravakṣyāmi gayāmāhātmyamuttamam| yacchrutvā sarvvapāpebhyo mucyate nātrasaṃśayaḥ

Vāyu said: Hereafter I shall proclaim the excellent greatness of Gayā, hearing which one is freed from all sins — there is no doubt in this.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

VaP 2 43.2

।।सूत उवाच।। सनकाद्यैर्म्महाभागैर्देवर्षिः स च नारदः। सनत्कुमारं पप्रच्छ प्रणम्य विधिपूर्व्वकम्

||sūta uvāca|| sanakādyairmmahābhāgairdevarṣiḥ sa ca nāradaḥ| sanatkumāraṃ papraccha praṇamya vidhipūrvvakam

Sūta said: Together with the greatly fortunate Sanaka and the others, the divine sage Nārada questioned Sanatkumāra, after bowing to him according to the rule.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

VaP 2 43.3

नारद उवाच।। सनत्कुमार मे ब्रूहि तीर्थं तीर्थोत्तमोत्तमम्। तारकं सर्वभूतानां पठतां श्रृण्वतां तथा

nārada uvāca|| sanatkumāra me brūhi tīrthaṃ tīrthottamottamam| tārakaṃ sarvabhūtānāṃ paṭhatāṃ śrṛṇvatāṃ tathā

Nārada said: Sanatkumāra, tell me of the sacred ford (tīrtha) that is the best of the best of fords, which carries across all beings, both those who recite (of it) and those who hear (of it).

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

VaP 2 43.4

सनत्कुमार उवाच।। वक्ष्ये तीर्थवरं पुण्यं श्राद्धादौ सर्वतारकम्। गयातीर्थं सर्वदेशे तीर्थेभ्योऽप्यधिकं श्रृणु

sanatkumāra uvāca|| vakṣye tīrthavaraṃ puṇyaṃ śrāddhādau sarvatārakam| gayātīrthaṃ sarvadeśe tīrthebhyo'pyadhikaṃ śrṛṇu

Sanatkumāra said: I shall declare the finest, meritorious ford, which in śrāddha and the rest carries all across; hear of the Gayā-tīrtha, greater than the fords in every land.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

VaP 2 43.5

गयासुरस्तपस्तेपे ब्रह्मणा क्रतवेऽर्थितः। प्राप्तस्य तस्य शिरसि शिलां धर्मो ह्यधारयत्

gayāsurastapastepe brahmaṇā kratave'rthitaḥ| prāptasya tasya śirasi śilāṃ dharmo hyadhārayat

The demon Gaya performed austerity, being requested by Brahmā for a sacrifice; and when he had come, Dharma held a rock upon his head.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

VaP 2 43.6

तत्र ब्रह्माऽकरोद्यागं स्थितश्चापि गदाधरः। फल्गुतीर्थादिरूपेण निश्चलार्थमहर्निशम्। गयासुरस्य विप्रेन्द्रब्रह्माद्यैर्दैवतैः सह

tatra brahmā'karodyāgaṃ sthitaścāpi gadādharaḥ| phalgutīrthādirūpeṇa niścalārthamaharniśam| gayāsurasya viprendrabrahmādyairdaivataiḥ saha

There Brahmā performed the sacrifice, and Gadādhara (Viṣṇu) too stood (there) in the form of Phalgu-tīrtha and the rest, day and night, for the sake of (the demon's) immobility — of the demon Gaya, O best of brahmins, together with Brahmā and the other gods.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

VaP 2 43.7

कृतयज्ञो ददौ ब्रह्मा ब्राह्मणेभ्यो गृहादिकम्। स्वेतकल्पे तु वाराहे गयायागमकारयत्

kṛtayajño dadau brahmā brāhmaṇebhyo gṛhādikam| svetakalpe tu vārāhe gayāyāgamakārayat

Having performed the sacrifice, Brahmā gave houses and the rest to the brahmins; but in the White Kalpa, in the Vārāha (kalpa), he had the Gayā sacrifice performed.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

VaP 2 43.8

गयानाम्ना गया ख्याता क्षेत्रं ब्रह्नमभिकांक्षितम्। कांक्षन्ति पितरः पुत्रान्नरकाद्भयभीरवः

gayānāmnā gayā khyātā kṣetraṃ brahnamabhikāṃkṣitam| kāṃkṣanti pitaraḥ putrānnarakādbhayabhīravaḥ

By the name of Gaya, Gayā is renowned, a field longed for by Brahmā. The fathers, trembling with fear of hell, long for sons.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

VaP 2 43.9

गयां यास्यति यः पुत्रः स नस्त्राता भविष्यति। गयाप्राप्तं सुतं दृष्ट्वा पितॄणामुत्सवो भवेत्। पद्भ्यामपि जलं स्पृष्ट्वा सोऽस्मभ्यं किं न दास्यति

gayāṃ yāsyati yaḥ putraḥ sa nastrātā bhaviṣyati| gayāprāptaṃ sutaṃ dṛṣṭvā pitṝṇāmutsavo bhavet| padbhyāmapi jalaṃ spṛṣṭvā so'smabhyaṃ kiṃ na dāsyati

"The son who will go to Gayā, he will be our rescuer." On seeing a son arrived at Gayā there would be festivity among the fathers: "Touching the water even with his feet, what will he not give us?"

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

VaP 2 43.10

गयां गत्वान्नदाता यः पितरस्तेन पुत्रिणः । पक्षत्रयनिवासी च पुनात्यासप्तमं कुलम्। नो चेत्पञ्चदशाहं वा सप्तरात्रिं त्रिरात्रिकम्

gayāṃ gatvānnadātā yaḥ pitarastena putriṇaḥ | pakṣatrayanivāsī ca punātyāsaptamaṃ kulam| no cetpañcadaśāhaṃ vā saptarātriṃ trirātrikam

He who goes to Gayā and gives food — through him the fathers have (truly) a son; and one who dwells (there) for three fortnights purifies the family to the seventh (generation); if not that, then for fifteen days, or seven nights, or three nights.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

VaP 2 43.11

महाकल्पकृतं पापं गयां प्राप्य विनश्यति। पिण्डं दद्याच्च पित्रादेरात्मनोऽपि तिलैर्विना

mahākalpakṛtaṃ pāpaṃ gayāṃ prāpya vinaśyati| piṇḍaṃ dadyācca pitrāderātmano'pi tilairvinā

Sin committed over a great kalpa perishes upon reaching Gayā; and one should offer the piṇḍa for one's father and the rest, and even for oneself, without sesame.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

VaP 2 43.12

ब्रह्महत्या सुरापानं स्तेयं गुर्व्वङ्गनागमः। पापंतत्सङ्गजं सर्व्वं गयाश्राद्धाद्विनश्यति

brahmahatyā surāpānaṃ steyaṃ gurvvaṅganāgamaḥ| pāpaṃtatsaṅgajaṃ sarvvaṃ gayāśrāddhādvinaśyati

Killing a brahmin, drinking liquor, theft, intercourse with the teacher's wife, and all sin arising from association with those (who do such things) — it perishes through the śrāddha at Gayā.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

VaP 2 43.13

आत्मजोऽप्यन्यजो वापि गयाभूमौ यदा तदा। यन्नाम्ना पातयेत्पिण्डं तं नयेद्ब्रह्म शाश्वतम्

ātmajo'pyanyajo vāpi gayābhūmau yadā tadā| yannāmnā pātayetpiṇḍaṃ taṃ nayedbrahma śāśvatam

Whether one's own son or born of another, whenever (he is) on the soil of Gayā, in whosever name he lets fall a piṇḍa, him he would lead to the eternal brahman.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

VaP 2 43.14

ब्रह्मज्ञानं गयाश्राद्धं गोगृहे मरणं तथा। वासः पुंसां कुरुक्षेत्रे मुक्तिरेषा चतुर्व्विधा

brahmajñānaṃ gayāśrāddhaṃ gogṛhe maraṇaṃ tathā| vāsaḥ puṃsāṃ kurukṣetre muktireṣā caturvvidhā

Knowledge of brahman, śrāddha at Gayā, death in a cow-pen, and men's dwelling at Kurukṣetra — this liberation is of four kinds.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

VaP 2 43.15

ब्रह्मज्ञानेन किं कार्य्यं गोगृहे मरणेन किम्। वासेन किं कुरुक्षेत्रे यदि पुत्रो गयां व्रजेत्

brahmajñānena kiṃ kāryyaṃ gogṛhe maraṇena kim| vāsena kiṃ kurukṣetre yadi putro gayāṃ vrajet

What need of knowledge of brahman, what of death in a cow-pen, what of dwelling at Kurukṣetra, if a son should go to Gayā?

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

VaP 2 43.16

गयायां सर्व्वकालेषु पिण्डं दद्याद्विचक्षणः। अधिमासे जन्मदिने चास्तेऽपि गुरुशुक्रयोः

gayāyāṃ sarvvakāleṣu piṇḍaṃ dadyādvicakṣaṇaḥ| adhimāse janmadine cāste'pi guruśukrayoḥ

At Gayā the wise man should offer the piṇḍa at all times: in an intercalary month, on his birthday, and even during the setting (invisibility) of Jupiter and Venus.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

VaP 2 43.17

न त्यक्तव्यं गयाश्राद्धं सिंहस्थेऽपि बृहस्पतौ। तथा दैवप्रमादेन प्रहतेषु व्रणेषु च। पुनः कर्म्माधिकारी च श्राद्धकृद्ब्रह्मलोकभाक्

na tyaktavyaṃ gayāśrāddhaṃ siṃhasthe'pi bṛhaspatau| tathā daivapramādena prahateṣu vraṇeṣu ca| punaḥ karmmādhikārī ca śrāddhakṛdbrahmalokabhāk

The śrāddha at Gayā is not to be abandoned even when Bṛhaspati stands in Leo, nor when, by mishap of fate, there are injuries and wounds; and (such a one) is again entitled to the rite, and the performer of the śrāddha shares in Brahmā's world.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

VaP 2 43.18

सकृद्गयाभिगमनं सकृत्पिण्डस्य पातनम्। दुर्लभं किं पुनर्न्नित्यमस्मिन्नेव व्यवस्थितिः

sakṛdgayābhigamanaṃ sakṛtpiṇḍasya pātanam| durlabhaṃ kiṃ punarnnityamasminneva vyavasthitiḥ

Going to Gayā once, letting fall the piṇḍa once, is hard to obtain — how much more constant residence in this very (place)!

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

VaP 2 43.19

प्रमादान्म्रियते क्षेत्रे ब्रह्मादेर्मुक्तिदायके। ब्रह्मज्ञानाद्यथा मुक्तिर्लभ्यते नात्र संशयः

pramādānmriyate kṣetre brahmādermuktidāyake| brahmajñānādyathā muktirlabhyate nātra saṃśayaḥ

If one dies by accident in that field which bestows liberation from Brahmā onward — just as liberation is obtained through knowledge of brahman, so (is it obtained here); there is no doubt in this.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

VaP 2 43.20

कीटकादिमृतानाञ्च पितॄणां तारणाय च। तस्मात्सर्व्वप्रयत्नेन कर्त्तव्यं सुविचक्षणैः

kīṭakādimṛtānāñca pitṝṇāṃ tāraṇāya ca| tasmātsarvvaprayatnena karttavyaṃ suvicakṣaṇaiḥ

And for the ferrying across of forefathers who died as insects and the like — therefore (this) should be performed with every effort by the truly discerning.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

VaP 2 43.21

ब्रह्मप्रकल्पितान्विप्रान्हव्यकव्यादिनाऽर्च्चयेत्। तैस्तुष्टैस्तोषिताः सर्व्वाः पितृभिः सह देवताः

brahmaprakalpitānviprānhavyakavyādinā'rccayet| taistuṣṭaistoṣitāḥ sarvvāḥ pitṛbhiḥ saha devatāḥ

He should worship, with havya and kavya and the rest, the brahmins appointed by Brahmā; when they are satisfied, all the deities together with the fathers are satisfied.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

VaP 2 43.22

मुण्डनं चोपवासश्च सर्व्वतीर्थेष्वयं विधिः। वर्जयित्वा कुरुक्षेत्रं विशालां विरजां गयाम्

muṇḍanaṃ copavāsaśca sarvvatīrtheṣvayaṃ vidhiḥ| varjayitvā kurukṣetraṃ viśālāṃ virajāṃ gayām

Shaving of the head and fasting — this is the rule at all sacred fords, excepting Kurukṣetra, Viśālā, Virajā, and Gayā.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

VaP 2 43.23

दण्डंप्रदर्शयेद्भिक्षुर्गयां गत्वा न पिण्डदः। दण्डं न्यस्ता विष्णुपदे पितृभिः सह मुच्यते

daṇḍaṃpradarśayedbhikṣurgayāṃ gatvā na piṇḍadaḥ| daṇḍaṃ nyastā viṣṇupade pitṛbhiḥ saha mucyate

The mendicant should display his staff; having gone to Gayā he does not give the piṇḍa. Having laid down the staff at Viṣṇupada, he is released together with his fathers.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

VaP 2 43.24

न दण्डी किल्बिषं धत्ते पुण्यं वा परमार्थतः। अतः सर्व्वां क्रियां त्यक्त्वा विष्णुं ध्यायति भावुकः

na daṇḍī kilbiṣaṃ dhatte puṇyaṃ vā paramārthataḥ| ataḥ sarvvāṃ kriyāṃ tyaktvā viṣṇuṃ dhyāyati bhāvukaḥ

The staff-bearer takes on neither sin nor merit, in the highest sense; therefore, giving up every rite, the devout man meditates on Viṣṇu.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

VaP 2 43.25

संन्यसेत्सर्व्वकर्म्माणि वेदमेकं न संन्यसेत्। मुण्डं कुर्य्याच्च पूर्व्वेऽस्मिन्पश्चिमे दक्षिणोत्तरे

saṃnyasetsarvvakarmmāṇi vedamekaṃ na saṃnyaset| muṇḍaṃ kuryyācca pūrvve'sminpaścime dakṣiṇottare

He should renounce all rites, but he should not renounce the one Veda; and he should shave the head in this eastern (quarter), and in the western, southern and northern.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

VaP 2 43.26

सार्द्धं क्रोशद्वयं मानं गयेति ब्रह्मणेरितम्। पञ्चक्रोशं गयाक्षेत्रं क्रोशमेकं गयाशिरः

sārddhaṃ krośadvayaṃ mānaṃ gayeti brahmaṇeritam| pañcakrośaṃ gayākṣetraṃ krośamekaṃ gayāśiraḥ

Two and a half krośas is the measure (of what is) called Gayā, as declared by Brahmā; the Gayā field is five krośas, and Gayāśira (Gayā's head) one krośa.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

VaP 2 43.27

तन्मध्ये सर्व्वतीर्थानि त्रैलोक्ये यानि सन्ति वै। श्राद्धकृद्यो गयाक्षेत्रे पितॄणामनृणो हि सः

tanmadhye sarvvatīrthāni trailokye yāni santi vai| śrāddhakṛdyo gayākṣetre pitṝṇāmanṛṇo hi saḥ

Within that are all the sacred fords that exist in the three worlds; he who performs the śrāddha in the Gayā field is indeed free of debt to the fathers.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

VaP 2 43.28

शिरसि श्राद्धकृद्यस्तु कुलानां शतमुद्धरेत्। गृहाच्चलितमात्रेण गयायां गमनं प्रति। स्वर्गा रोहणसोपानं पितॄणाञ्च पदे पदे

śirasi śrāddhakṛdyastu kulānāṃ śatamuddharet| gṛhāccalitamātreṇa gayāyāṃ gamanaṃ prati| svargā rohaṇasopānaṃ pitṝṇāñca pade pade

But he who performs the śrāddha at the Head (of Gayā) delivers a hundred lineages; from the mere moment of moving out of the house toward the journey to Gayā, at every step there is a stairway of ascent to heaven for the fathers.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

VaP 2 43.29

पदे पदेऽश्वमेधस्य यत्फलं गच्छतो गयाम्। तत्फलञ्च भवेन्नूनं समग्रं नात्र संशयः

pade pade'śvamedhasya yatphalaṃ gacchato gayām| tatphalañca bhavennūnaṃ samagraṃ nātra saṃśayaḥ

At every step of one going to Gayā, whatever fruit belongs to a horse-sacrifice, that fruit too surely accrues in full — there is no doubt here.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

VaP 2 43.30

पायसेनापि चरुणा सक्तुना पिष्टकेन वा। तण्डुलैः फलमूलाद्यैर्गयायां पिण्डपातनम्

pāyasenāpi caruṇā saktunā piṣṭakena vā| taṇḍulaiḥ phalamūlādyairgayāyāṃ piṇḍapātanam

With milk-rice, or with boiled oblation-grain, with barley meal or with cake, with rice grains, with fruits and roots and the like — (such is) the dropping of the piṇḍa at Gayā.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

VaP 2 43.31

तिलकल्केन खण्डेन गुडेन सघृतेन वा। केवलेनैव दध्ना वा ऊर्जेन मधुनाऽथ वा

tilakalkena khaṇḍena guḍena saghṛtena vā| kevalenaiva dadhnā vā ūrjena madhunā'tha vā

With sesame paste, with sugar-candy, with jaggery, or with (that) mixed with ghee, or with curds alone, or with butter, or else with honey.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

VaP 2 43.32

पिण्याकं सघृतं खण्डं पितृभ्योऽक्षयमित्युत। इज्यते वार्त्तवं भोज्यं हविष्यान्नं मुनीरितम्

piṇyākaṃ saghṛtaṃ khaṇḍaṃ pitṛbhyo'kṣayamityuta| ijyate vārttavaṃ bhojyaṃ haviṣyānnaṃ munīritam

Oil-cake with ghee and sugar-candy is said to be imperishable for the fathers; vegetable fare is offered as food, (and) oblation-food is (so) declared by the sages.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

VaP 2 43.33

एकतः सर्व्ववस्तूनि रसवन्ति मधूनि हि। स्मृत्वा गदाधराङघ्र्यब्जं फल्गुतीर्थाम्बु चैकतः

ekataḥ sarvvavastūni rasavanti madhūni hi| smṛtvā gadādharāṅaghryabjaṃ phalgutīrthāmbu caikataḥ

On the one side all substances, juicy things and honeys; and on the other, having called to mind the lotus feet of Gadādhara, the water of the Phalgu ford.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

VaP 2 43.34

पिण्डासनं पिण्डदानं पुनः प्रत्यवनेजनम्। दक्षिणा चान्न सङ्कल्पस्तीर्थश्राद्धेष्वयं विधिः

piṇḍāsanaṃ piṇḍadānaṃ punaḥ pratyavanejanam| dakṣiṇā cānna saṅkalpastīrthaśrāddheṣvayaṃ vidhiḥ

A seat for the piṇḍa, the giving of the piṇḍa, then again the rinsing-water afterwards, the priest's fee, and the formal resolve regarding the food — this is the rule in ford-śrāddhas.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

VaP 2 43.35

नावाहनं न दिग्बन्धो न दोषो दृष्टिसम्भवः। सकारुण्येन कर्त्तव्यं तीर्थश्राद्धं विचक्षणैः

nāvāhanaṃ na digbandho na doṣo dṛṣṭisambhavaḥ| sakāruṇyena karttavyaṃ tīrthaśrāddhaṃ vicakṣaṇaiḥ

There is no invocation, no fencing of the directions, and no fault arising from (an evil) glance; the ford-śrāddha should be performed with compassion by the discerning.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

VaP 2 43.36

अन्यत्रावाहिताः काले पितरो यान्त्यमुं प्रति। तीर्थे सदा वसन्त्येते तस्मादावाहनं न हि

anyatrāvāhitāḥ kāle pitaro yāntyamuṃ prati| tīrthe sadā vasantyete tasmādāvāhanaṃ na hi

Invoked elsewhere at the (proper) time, the fathers go toward that (place); these always dwell in the sacred ford, and therefore there is no invocation.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

VaP 2 43.37

तीर्थश्राद्धं प्रयच्छद्भिः पुरुषैः फलकाङ्क्षिभिः। कामं क्रोधं तथा लोभं त्यक्त्वा कार्य्या क्रियाऽनिशम्

tīrthaśrāddhaṃ prayacchadbhiḥ puruṣaiḥ phalakāṅkṣibhiḥ| kāmaṃ krodhaṃ tathā lobhaṃ tyaktvā kāryyā kriyā'niśam

By men who present the ford-śrāddha desiring its fruit, the rite is to be performed unceasingly, having abandoned desire, anger and greed.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

VaP 2 43.38

ब्रह्मचार्य्यकभोजी च भूशायी सत्यवाक्छुचिः। सर्व्वभूतहिते रक्तः स तीर्थफलमश्नुते

brahmacāryyakabhojī ca bhūśāyī satyavākchuciḥ| sarvvabhūtahite raktaḥ sa tīrthaphalamaśnute

Chaste, eating but once, sleeping on the ground, speaking truth, pure, devoted to the welfare of all beings — he obtains the fruit of the sacred ford.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

VaP 2 43.39

तीर्थान्यनुसरन्धीरः पाषण्डं पूर्व्वतस्त्यजेत्। पाषण्ढः स च विज्ञेयो यो भवेत्कामकारतः

tīrthānyanusarandhīraḥ pāṣaṇḍaṃ pūrvvatastyajet| pāṣaṇḍhaḥ sa ca vijñeyo yo bhavetkāmakārataḥ

The steady man who visits the sacred fords should first of all abandon heresy; and he is to be known as a heretic who acts according to his own desire.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

VaP 2 43.40

तीर्थेषु ये नरा धीराः कर्म्म कुर्व्वन्ति तद्घताः। यथा ब्रह्मविदो वेद्यं वस्तु चानन्यचेतसः। प्रविशन्ति परेशाख्यं ब्रह्म ब्रह्मपरायणाः

tīrtheṣu ye narā dhīrāḥ karmma kurvvanti tadghatāḥ| yathā brahmavido vedyaṃ vastu cānanyacetasaḥ| praviśanti pareśākhyaṃ brahma brahmaparāyaṇāḥ

Those steadfast men who at the sacred fords perform rites devoted to that (purpose)—just as the knowers of brahman, with minds fixed on nothing else, (enter) the object to be known—so, intent on brahman, they enter the brahman called the Supreme Lord.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

VaP 2 43.41

यास्ते वैतरणी नाम नदी त्रैलोक्यविश्रुता। साऽवतीर्णा गयाक्षेत्रे पितॄणां तारणाय वै। स्नातो गोदो वैतरण्यां त्रिःसप्तकुलमुद्धरेत्

yāste vaitaraṇī nāma nadī trailokyaviśrutā| sā'vatīrṇā gayākṣetre pitṝṇāṃ tāraṇāya vai| snāto godo vaitaraṇyāṃ triḥsaptakulamuddharet

That river of yours named Vaitaraṇī, renowned in the three worlds—it has descended into the region of Gayā for the ferrying across of the ancestors. One who has bathed in the Vaitaraṇī and given a cow would rescue thrice-seven generations of his family.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

VaP 2 43.42

तथाऽक्षयवटं गत्वा विप्रान्सन्तोषयिष्यति। ब्रह्मप्रकल्पितान्विप्रान्हव्यकव्यादिनाऽर्च्चयेत्। तैस्तुष्टैस्तोषिताः सर्व्वाः पितृभिः सह देवताः

tathā'kṣayavaṭaṃ gatvā viprānsantoṣayiṣyati| brahmaprakalpitānviprānhavyakavyādinā'rccayet| taistuṣṭaistoṣitāḥ sarvvāḥ pitṛbhiḥ saha devatāḥ

Likewise, having gone to the Undying Banyan, he shall gratify the brahmins; he should honour the brahmins appointed by Brahmā with offerings for gods and ancestors and the rest. When these are satisfied, all the deities together with the ancestors are satisfied.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

VaP 2 43.43

गयायां न हि तत्स्थानं यत्र तीर्थं न विद्यते। सान्निध्यं सर्व्वतीर्थानां गयातीर्थं ततो वरम्

gayāyāṃ na hi tatsthānaṃ yatra tīrthaṃ na vidyate| sānnidhyaṃ sarvvatīrthānāṃ gayātīrthaṃ tato varam

For in Gayā there is no place where a sacred ford is not found; (there is) the presence of all the fords, and therefore the ford of Gayā is the best.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

VaP 2 43.44

मीने मेषे स्थिते सूर्य्ये कन्यायां कार्मुके घटे। दुर्ल्लभं त्रिषु लोकेषु गयायां पिण्डपातनम्

mīne meṣe sthite sūryye kanyāyāṃ kārmuke ghaṭe| durllabhaṃ triṣu lokeṣu gayāyāṃ piṇḍapātanam

When the sun stands in Pisces, in Aries, in Virgo, in Sagittarius, in Aquarius—the dropping of rice-balls at Gayā is hard to obtain in the three worlds.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

VaP 2 43.45

मकरे वर्त्तमाने च ग्रहणे चन्द्रसूर्य्ययोः । दुर्ल्लभं त्रिषु लोकेषु गयाश्राद्धं सुदुर्ल्लभम्

makare varttamāne ca grahaṇe candrasūryyayoḥ | durllabhaṃ triṣu lokeṣu gayāśrāddhaṃ sudurllabham

And when (the sun) is in Capricorn, and at an eclipse of the moon or the sun, it is hard to obtain in the three worlds: the śrāddha at Gayā is very hard to obtain.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

VaP 2 43.46

गयायां पिण्डदानेन यत्फलं लभते नरः। न तच्छक्यं मया वक्तुं कल्पकोटिशतैरपि

gayāyāṃ piṇḍadānena yatphalaṃ labhate naraḥ| na tacchakyaṃ mayā vaktuṃ kalpakoṭiśatairapi

The fruit which a man obtains by the giving of rice-balls at Gayā—that I could not tell even in hundreds of tens of millions of aeons.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition