Shloka 61

The Procedure for Offering Piṇḍa (Funerary Rice-balls) — Gayā-māhātmya

Devanagari script

कृत्वाह्वानं पितॄणां तु प्रयतः प्रेतपर्वते । पूर्ववच्चैव संकल्प्य ततः पिंडान्प्रदापयेत् ॥ ६१ ॥

Transliteration

kṛtvāhvānaṃ pitṝṇāṃ tu prayataḥ pretaparvate | pūrvavaccaiva saṃkalpya tataḥ piṃḍānpradāpayet || 61 ||

Translation

في جبل بريتا، بعد استدعاء البِتْرِ (Pitṛ) أولًا، على المؤدّي المتطهّر أن يعقد السَنْكَلْپَة (saṅkalpa) كما سُبق بيانه، ثم يقدّم قُرَصَ الأرزّ (piṇḍa) على الوجه المأمور.

Word by Word

• कृत्वा: having performed
• कृत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा), having done

• आह्वानम्: invocation/calling
• आह्वानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आह्वान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• पितॄणाम्: of the ancestors
• पितॄणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural

• तु: then / indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable particle (निपात)

• प्रयतः: self-restrained
• प्रयतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रयत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; ‘disciplined/controlled’

• प्रेत-पर्वते: on/at Preta mountain
• प्रेत-पर्वते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेत + पर्वत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• पूर्ववत्: as before
• पूर्ववत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्ववत् (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), emphasis

• संकल्प्य: having made the intention (saṅkalpa)
• संकल्प्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-√कॢप् (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्), having resolved/intended

• ततः: then
• ततः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• पिण्डान्: rice-balls (piṇḍas)
• पिण्डान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural

• प्रदापयेत्: should cause to be given / should offer
• प्रदापयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√दा (धातु)
• Form: Causative (णिजन्त) + Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person, Singular

Speaker

Sūta (narrating Purāṇic instruction in the Uttara-bhāga context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Pitṛs
• Pretaparvata
• Piṇḍa
• Saṅkalpa

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that ancestral rites (Pitṛ-karman) become effective when done with purity, proper invocation of the Pitṛs, and a clear saṅkalpa, especially at a tirtha like Pretaparvata.

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

While primarily a ritual instruction, it supports bhakti through reverent duty (dharma) and sacred intention—offering to the Pitṛs as part of a God-centered life that honors lineage and śāstric order.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is highlighted: the sequence of āhvāna (invocation), saṅkalpa (formal resolve), and piṇḍa-pradāna (offering) shows the applied science of Vedic rites.