The Glory of Gaya (V) — Adi-Gadadhara and the Conclusion of the Gaya-Mahatmya

Verse 1 (garuda.1.86.1)

ब्रह्मोवाच । येयं प्रेतशिला ख्याता गयायां सा त्रिधा स्थिता । प्रभासे प्रेतकुण्डे च गयासुरशिरस्यपि

brahmovāca yeyaṁ pretaśilā khyātā gayāyāṁ sā tridhā sthitā prabhāse pretakuṇḍe ca gayāsuraśirasyapi

Brahma said: This Pretashila renowned at Gaya stands in three places — at Prabhasa, at Pretakunda, and also upon the head of Gayasura.

Verse 2 (garuda.1.86.2)

धर्मेण धारिता भूत्यै सर्वदेवमयी शिला । प्रेतत्वं ये गता नॄणां मित्राद्या बान्धवादयः

dharmeṇa dhāritā bhūtyai sarvadevamayī śilā pretatvaṁ ye gatā nṝṇāṁ mitrādyā bāndhavādayaḥ

That rock, filled with all the gods, was held in place by Dharma for the welfare of beings — for those friends, kinsmen and others of men who have fallen into the state of pretas,

Verse 3 (garuda.1.86.3)

तेषामुद्धरणार्थाय यतः प्रेतशिला शुभा । अतोऽत्र मुनयो भूपा राजपत्न्यादयः सदा

teṣāmuddharaṇārthāya yataḥ pretaśilā śubhā ato'tra munayo bhūpā rājapatnyādayaḥ sadā

for their deliverance alone does that auspicious Pretashila exist; therefore sages, kings, queens and others always come here.

Verse 4 (garuda.1.86.4)

तस्यां शिलायां श्राद्धादिकर्त्तारो ब्रह्मलोकगाः । गयासुरस्य यन्मुण्डं तस्य पृष्ठे शिला यतः

tasyāṁ śilāyāṁ śrāddhādikarttāro brahmalokagāḥ gayāsurasya yanmuṇḍaṁ tasya pṛṣṭhe śilā yataḥ

Those who perform shraddha and the like upon that rock go to the world of Brahma. Since that rock rests upon the very head of Gayasura,

Verse 5 (garuda.1.86.5)

मुण्डपृष्ठो गिरिस्तस्मात्सर्वदेवमयो ह्ययम् । मुण्डपृष्ठस्य पादेषु यतो ब्रह्मसरोमुखाः

muṇḍapṛṣṭho giristasmātsarvadevamayo hyayam muṇḍapṛṣṭhasya pādeṣu yato brahmasaromukhāḥ

the mountain is therefore called Mundaprishtha, and it is filled with all the gods. At the foot of Mundaprishtha, where the lake of Brahma and other such places are,

Verse 6 (garuda.1.86.6)

अरविन्दवनं तेषु तेन चैवोपलक्षितः । अरविन्दो गिरिर्नाम क्रौञ्चपादाङ्कितो यतः

aravindavanaṁ teṣu tena caivopalakṣitaḥ aravindo girirnāma krauñcapādāṅkito yataḥ

there also is Arvindavana, by which this mountain is marked — the mountain named Aravinda, marked by the footprint of Krauncha.

Verse 7 (garuda.1.86.7)

तस्माद्गिरिः क्रौञ्चपादः पितॄणां ब्रह्मलोकदः । गदाधरादयो देवा आद्या आदौ व्यवस्थिताः

tasmādgiriḥ krauñcapādaḥ pitṝṇāṁ brahmalokadaḥ gadādharādayo devā ādyā ādau vyavasthitāḥ

Hence this mountain is called Krauncha-pada, and it grants the world of Brahma to the ancestors. Gadadhara and the other primal gods were established there at the very beginning —

Verse 8 (garuda.1.86.8)

शिलारूपेण चाव्यक्तास्तस्माद्देवमयी शिला । गया शिरश्छादयित्वा गुरुत्वादास्थिता शिला

śilārūpeṇa cāvyaktāstasmāddevamayī śilā gayā śiraśchādayitvā gurutvādāsthitā śilā

unmanifest, in the form of the rock; therefore that rock is filled with all the gods. Having covered the head of Gaya, that rock, by its own weight, settled there.

Verse 9 (garuda.1.86.9)

कालान्तरेण व्यक्तश्चस्थित आदिगदाधरः । महारुद्रादिदेवैस्तु आनादिनिधनो हरिः

kālāntareṇa vyaktaścasthita ādigadādharaḥ mahārudrādidevaistu ānādinidhano hariḥ

In the course of time, Adi-Gadadhara became manifest and took his stand there — Hari, without beginning or end, together with Maharudra and the other gods,

Verse 10 (garuda.1.86.10)

धर्म संरक्षणार्थाय अधर्मादिविनष्टये । दैत्यराक्षसनाशार्थं मत्स्यः पूर्वं यथाभवत्

dharma saṁrakṣaṇārthāya adharmādivinaṣṭaye daityarākṣasanāśārthaṁ matsyaḥ pūrvaṁ yathābhavat

for the protection of dharma, for the destruction of adharma, for the destruction of daityas and rakshasas — just as in earlier times he became the Fish,

Verse 11 (garuda.1.86.11)

कूर्मो वराहो नृहरिर्वामनो राम ऊर्जितः । यथा दाशरथी रामः कृष्णोबुद्धोऽथ कल्क्यपि

kūrmo varāho nṛharirvāmano rāma ūrjitaḥ yathā dāśarathī rāmaḥ kṛṣṇobuddho'tha kalkyapi

the Tortoise, the Boar, Nrihari, Vamana, the mighty Rama; and as Rama the son of Dasharatha, Krishna, Buddha, and Kalki also became —

Verse 12 (garuda.1.86.12)

तथा व्यक्तोऽव्यक्तरूपी आसीदादिर्गदाधरः । आदिरादौ पूजितोऽत्र देवैर्ब्रह्मादिभिर्यतः

tathā vyakto'vyaktarūpī āsīdādirgadādharaḥ ādirādau pūjito'tra devairbrahmādibhiryataḥ

so too, of manifest-unmanifest nature, he became the primal Adi-Gadadhara. Since he, the Original One, was worshipped here at the very beginning by the gods, beginning with Brahma —

Verse 13 (garuda.1.86.13)

पाद्याद्यैर्गन्धपुष्पाद्यैरत आदिगदाधरः । गदाधरं सुरैः सार्द्धमाद्यं गत्वा ददाति यः

pādyādyairgandhapuṣpādyairata ādigadādharaḥ gadādharaṁ suraiḥ sārddhamādyaṁ gatvā dadāti yaḥ

with foot-washing water and the like, with scent and flowers and the like — therefore he is called Adi-Gadadhara. Whoever, going there together with the gods, offers to that Primal Gadadhara —

Verse 14 (garuda.1.86.14)

अर्घ्यं पात्रं च पाद्यं च गन्धपुष्पं च धूपकम् । दीपं नैवैद्यमुत्कृष्टं माल्यानि विविधानि च

arghyaṁ pātraṁ ca pādyaṁ ca gandhapuṣpaṁ ca dhūpakam dīpaṁ naivaidyamutkṛṣṭaṁ mālyāni vividhāni ca

arghya, a vessel, foot-water, scent and flowers, incense, a lamp, excellent food-offerings, and various garlands,

Verse 15 (garuda.1.86.15)

वस्त्राणि मुकुटं घण्टां चामरं प्रेक्षणीयकम् । अलङ्कारादिकं पिण्डमन्नदानादिकं तथा

vastrāṇi mukuṭaṁ ghaṇṭāṁ cāmaraṁ prekṣaṇīyakam alaṅkārādikaṁ piṇḍamannadānādikaṁ tathā

clothes, a crown, a bell, a fly-whisk, a mirror, ornaments and the like, pinda, and gifts of food —

Verse 16 (garuda.1.86.16)

तेषां तावद्धनं धान्यमायुरारो ग्यसम्पदः । पुत्त्रादिसन्ततिश्रेयोविद्यार्थं काम ईप्सितः

teṣāṁ tāvaddhanaṁ dhānyamāyurāro gyasampadaḥ puttrādisantatiśreyovidyārthaṁ kāma īpsitaḥ

he obtains wealth, grain, long life, the wealth of health; offspring beginning with sons, prosperity, learning, riches, and desired enjoyments;

Verse 17 (garuda.1.86.17)

भार्य्या स्वर्गादिवासश्च स्वर्गादागत्य राज्यकम् । कुलीनः सत्त्वसम्पन्नो रणे मर्दितशात्रवनः

bhāryyā svargādivāsaśca svargādāgatya rājyakam kulīnaḥ sattvasampanno raṇe marditaśātravanaḥ

a wife, dwelling in heaven, and, returning from heaven, a kingdom; noble birth, strength of character, and the power to crush enemies in battle;

Verse 18 (garuda.1.86.18)

वधबन्धविनिर्मुक्तश्चान्ते मोक्षमवाप्नुयात् । श्राद्धपिण्डादिकर्त्तारः पितृभिर्ब्रह्मलोकगाः

vadhabandhavinirmuktaścānte mokṣamavāpnuyāt śrāddhapiṇḍādikarttāraḥ pitṛbhirbrahmalokagāḥ

freedom from being slain or bound, and finally, liberation. Those who perform shraddha and pinda-offerings, together with their ancestors, go to the world of Brahma.

Verse 19 (garuda.1.86.19)

जगन्नाथं येऽप्चयन्ति सुभद्रां बलभद्रकम् । ज्ञानं प्राप्य श्रियं पुत्रान्व्रजन्ति पुरुषोत्तमम्

jagannāthaṁ ye'pcayanti subhadrāṁ balabhadrakam jñānaṁ prāpya śriyaṁ putrānvrajanti puruṣottamam

Those who worship Jagannatha, Subhadra, and Balabhadra, having obtained knowledge, prosperity, and sons, attain Purushottama.

Verse 20 (garuda.1.86.20)

पुरुषोत्तमराजस्य सूर्य्यस्य च गणस्य च । पुरतस्तत्र पिण्डादि पितॄणां ब्रह्मलोकदः

puruṣottamarājasya sūryyasya ca gaṇasya ca puratastatra piṇḍādi pitṝṇāṁ brahmalokadaḥ

Pinda-offerings and the like made in front of King Purushottama, Surya, and Ganapati grant the ancestors the world of Brahma.

Verse 21 (garuda.1.86.21)

नत्वा कपर्द्दिविघ्नेशं सर्वविघ्नैः प्रमुच्यते । कार्त्तिकेयं पूजयित्वा ब्रह्मलोकमवाप्नुयात्

natvā kaparddivighneśaṁ sarvavighnaiḥ pramucyate kārttikeyaṁ pūjayitvā brahmalokamavāpnuyāt

Having bowed to Kapardin (Shiva) and Vighnesha, one is freed from all obstacles; having worshipped Karttikeya, one attains the world of Brahma.

Verse 22 (garuda.1.86.22)

द्वादशादित्यमभ्यर्च्य सर्वरोगैः प्रमुच्यते । वैश्वानरं समभ्यर्च्य उत्तमां दीप्तिमाप्नुयात्

dvādaśādityamabhyarcya sarvarogaiḥ pramucyate vaiśvānaraṁ samabhyarcya uttamāṁ dīptimāpnuyāt

Having worshipped the twelve Adityas, one is freed from all diseases; having worshipped Vaishvanara, one obtains supreme radiance.

Verse 23 (garuda.1.86.23)

रेवन्तं पूजयित्वाथ अश्वानाप्नोत्यनुत्तमान् । अभ्यर्च्येन्द्रं महैश्वर्य्यं गौरीं सौभाग्यमाप्नुयात्

revantaṁ pūjayitvātha aśvānāpnotyanuttamān abhyarcyendraṁ mahaiśvaryyaṁ gaurīṁ saubhāgyamāpnuyāt

Having worshipped Revanta, one obtains excellent horses; by worshipping Indra, great sovereignty; and by worshipping Gauri, good fortune.

Verse 24 (garuda.1.86.24)

विद्यां सरस्वतीं प्रार्च्य लक्ष्मीं संपूज्य च श्रियम् । गरुडं च समभ्यर्च्य विघ्नवृन्दात्प्रमुच्यते

vidyāṁ sarasvatīṁ prārcya lakṣmīṁ saṁpūjya ca śriyam garuḍaṁ ca samabhyarcya vighnavṛndātpramucyate

By worshipping Sarasvati, learning; by worshipping Lakshmi, prosperity; and by worshipping Garuda, freedom from a host of obstacles is obtained.

Verse 25 (garuda.1.86.25)

क्षेत्रपालं समभ्यर्च्य ग्रहवृन्दैः प्रमुच्यते । मुण्डपृष्ठं समभ्यर्च्य सर्वकाममवाप्नुयात्

kṣetrapālaṁ samabhyarcya grahavṛndaiḥ pramucyate muṇḍapṛṣṭhaṁ samabhyarcya sarvakāmamavāpnuyāt

By worshipping Kshetrapala, one is freed from the ill effects of the planets; by worshipping Mundaprishtha, one obtains all desires.

Verse 26 (garuda.1.86.26)

नागाष्टकं समभ्यर्च्य नागदष्टो विमुच्यते । ब्रह्माणं पूजयित्वा च ब्रह्मलोकमवाप्नुयात्

nāgāṣṭakaṁ samabhyarcya nāgadaṣṭo vimucyate brahmāṇaṁ pūjayitvā ca brahmalokamavāpnuyāt

By worshipping the eight Nagas, one bitten by a serpent is freed; by worshipping Brahma, one attains the world of Brahma.

Verse 27 (garuda.1.86.27)

बलभद्रं समभ्यर्च्य बलारोग्यमवाप्नुयात् । सुभद्रां पूजयित्वा तु सौभाग्यं परमाप्नुयात्

balabhadraṁ samabhyarcya balārogyamavāpnuyāt subhadrāṁ pūjayitvā tu saubhāgyaṁ paramāpnuyāt

By worshipping Balabhadra, one obtains strength and health; by worshipping Subhadra, one obtains supreme good fortune.

Verse 28 (garuda.1.86.28)

सर्वान्कामानवाप्नोति संपूज्य पुरुषोत्तमम् । नारायणं तु संपूज्य नराणामधिपो भवेत्

sarvānkāmānavāpnoti saṁpūjya puruṣottamam nārāyaṇaṁ tu saṁpūjya narāṇāmadhipo bhavet

By worshipping Purushottama, one obtains all desires; by worshipping Narayana, one becomes a ruler of men.

Verse 29 (garuda.1.86.29)

स्पृष्ट्वा नत्वा नारसिंहं संग्रामे विजयी भवेत् । वराहं पूजयित्वा तु भूमिराज्यमवाप्नुयात्

spṛṣṭvā natvā nārasiṁhaṁ saṁgrāme vijayī bhavet varāhaṁ pūjayitvā tu bhūmirājyamavāpnuyāt

Having touched and bowed to Narasimha, one becomes victorious in battle; by worshipping Varaha, one obtains sovereignty over the earth.

Verse 30 (garuda.1.86.30)

मालाविद्याधरौ स्पष्ट्वा विद्याधरपदं लभेत् । सर्वान्कामानवाप्नोति संपूज्यादिगदाधरम्

mālāvidyādharau spaṣṭvā vidyādharapadaṁ labhet sarvānkāmānavāpnoti saṁpūjyādigadādharam

Having touched Mala and Vidyadhara, one obtains the rank of a Vidyadhara; by worshipping Adi-Gadadhara, one obtains all desires.

Verse 31 (garuda.1.86.31)

सोमनाथं समभ्यर्च्य शिवलोकमवाप्नुयात् । रुद्रेश्वरं नमस्कृत्य रुद्रलोके महीयते

somanāthaṁ samabhyarcya śivalokamavāpnuyāt rudreśvaraṁ namaskṛtya rudraloke mahīyate

By worshipping Somanatha, one attains the world of Shiva; having bowed to Rudreshvara, one is exalted in the world of Rudra.

Verse 32 (garuda.1.86.32)

रामेश्वरं नरो नत्वा रामवत्सुप्रियो भवेत् । ब्रह्मेश्वरं नरः स्तुत्वा ब्रह्मलोकाय कल्प्यते

rāmeśvaraṁ naro natvā rāmavatsupriyo bhavet brahmeśvaraṁ naraḥ stutvā brahmalokāya kalpyate

A man, having bowed to Rameshvara, becomes greatly beloved like Rama; a man, having praised Brahmeshvara, becomes fit for the world of Brahma.

Verse 33 (garuda.1.86.33)

कालेश्वरं समभ्यर्च्य नरः कालञ्जयो भवेत् । केदारं पूजयित्वा तु शिवलोके महीयते

kāleśvaraṁ samabhyarcya naraḥ kālañjayo bhavet kedāraṁ pūjayitvā tu śivaloke mahīyate

By worshipping Kaleshvara, a man becomes a conqueror of death; by worshipping Kedara, he is exalted in the world of Shiva.

Verse 34 (garuda.1.86.34)

सिद्धेश्वरं च संपूज्य सिद्धो ब्रह्मपुरं व्रजेत् । आद्यै रुद्रादिभिः सार्द्धं दृष्ट्वा ह्यादिगदाधरम्

siddheśvaraṁ ca saṁpūjya siddho brahmapuraṁ vrajet ādyai rudrādibhiḥ sārddhaṁ dṛṣṭvā hyādigadādharam

By worshipping Siddheshvara, one becomes a siddha and goes to the city of Brahma. Having beheld that Adi-Gadadhara together with the primal Rudra and the other gods —

Verse 35 (garuda.1.86.35)

कुलानां शतमुद्धृत्य नयेद्ब्रह्मपुरं नरः । धर्मार्थी प्राप्नुयाद्धर्ममर्थार्थो चार्थमाप्नुयात्

kulānāṁ śatamuddhṛtya nayedbrahmapuraṁ naraḥ dharmārthī prāpnuyāddharmamarthārtho cārthamāpnuyāt

a man delivers a hundred generations of the lineage and leads them to the city of Brahma. One who seeks dharma obtains dharma, one who seeks wealth obtains wealth,

Verse 36 (garuda.1.86.36)

कामान्संप्राप्नुयात्कामी मोक्षार्थी मोक्षमाप्नुयात् । राज्यार्थो राज्यमाप्नोति शान्त्यर्थी शान्तिमाप्नुयात्

kāmānsaṁprāpnuyātkāmī mokṣārthī mokṣamāpnuyāt rājyārtho rājyamāpnoti śāntyarthī śāntimāpnuyāt

one who desires pleasures obtains pleasures, one who seeks liberation obtains liberation, one who seeks a kingdom obtains a kingdom, one who seeks peace obtains peace —

Verse 37 (garuda.1.86.37)

सर्वार्थी सर्वमाप्नोति संपूज्यादिगदाधरम् । पुत्रान्पुत्रार्थिनी स्त्री च सौभाग्यं च तदर्थिनी

sarvārthī sarvamāpnoti saṁpūjyādigadādharam putrānputrārthinī strī ca saubhāgyaṁ ca tadarthinī

and one who seeks everything obtains everything, by worshipping Adi-Gadadhara. A woman who desires sons obtains sons, one who desires good fortune obtains good fortune,

Verse 38 (garuda.1.86.38)

वंशार्थिनी च वंशान्वै प्राप्यार्च्यादिगदाधरम् । श्राद्धेन पिण्डदानेन अन्नदानेन वारिदः

vaṁśārthinī ca vaṁśānvai prāpyārcyādigadādharam śrāddhena piṇḍadānena annadānena vāridaḥ

and one who desires lineage obtains lineage — by worshipping Adi-Gadadhara. Through shraddha, through pinda-offering, through the gift of food, and through the gift of water —

Verse 39 (garuda.1.86.39)

ब्रह्मलोकमवाप्नोति संपूज्यादिगदाधरम् । पृथिव्यां सर्वतीर्थेभ्यो यथा श्रेष्ठा गया पुरी

brahmalokamavāpnoti saṁpūjyādigadādharam pṛthivyāṁ sarvatīrthebhyo yathā śreṣṭhā gayā purī

one who worships Adi-Gadadhara attains the world of Brahma. Just as, on earth, among all tirthas, the city of Gaya is the best,

Verse 40 (garuda.1.86.40)

तथा शिलादिरूपश्च श्रेष्ठश्चैव गदाधरः । तस्मिन्दृष्टे शिला दृष्टा यतः सर्वं गदाधरः

tathā śilādirūpaśca śreṣṭhaścaiva gadādharaḥ tasmindṛṣṭe śilā dṛṣṭā yataḥ sarvaṁ gadādharaḥ

so too, among the forms beginning with the rock, Gadadhara is the best. When he is seen, the rock is thereby seen — for Gadadhara is everything.