Shloka 87

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

Devanagari script

हिमं च द्रवरूपेण तस्माद्गंगाधिकं विदुः । अश्वमेधसहस्राणां फलं फल्गुजलाप्लवात् ॥ ८७ ॥

Transliteration

himaṃ ca dravarūpeṇa tasmādgaṃgādhikaṃ viduḥ | aśvamedhasahasrāṇāṃ phalaṃ phalgujalāplavāt || 87 ||

Translation

ولأنه ثلجٌ تحوّل إلى ماءٍ جارٍ، عُرِفَ فالغو بأنه أسمى حتى من الغانغا (Gaṅgā). ومن اغتسل أو انغمس في مياه فالغو نال ثوابًا يعادل آلافَ قرابين الأشفاميدها (Aśvamedha).

Word by Word

• हिमम्: snow/ice
• हिमम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हिम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• द्रवरूपेण: in liquid form
• द्रवरूपेण: Karana (करण/Instrument or manner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रव + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (descriptive: ‘in liquid form’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• तस्मात्: therefore/from that
• तस्मात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन (Singular)

• गंगाधिकम्: greater than the Gaṅgā
• गंगाधिकम्: Karma (कर्म/Object complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गङ्गा + अधिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (comparative: ‘greater than Gaṅgā’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• विदुः: know/consider
• विदुः: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural)

• अश्वमेधसहस्राणाम्: of thousands of horse-sacrifices
• अश्वमेधसहस्राणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्वमेध + सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (determinative: ‘thousands of aśvamedhas’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• फलम्: fruit/result
• फलम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular)

• फल्गुजलाप्लवात्: from bathing/immersion in Phalgu water
• फल्गुजलाप्लवात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल्गु + जल + आप्लव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (determinative: ‘immersion/bathing in Phalgu water’), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Narada (teaching the Sanatkumara brothers in a Tirtha-Mahatmya context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Gaṅgā
• Phalgu
• Aśvamedha

FAQs

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

It elevates tīrtha-snāna (pilgrimage bathing) as a potent purifier: immersion in the Phalgu is praised as yielding immense puṇya, comparable to major Vedic sacrifices, emphasizing the transformative power of sacred places.

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

Though framed as tīrtha-mahātmya, the teaching supports bhakti by directing the devotee toward reverent contact with sacred waters and faith-filled practice (śraddhā in tīrthas), which traditionally accompanies remembrance of Hari and acts of worship during pilgrimage.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual practice (kalpa-oriented conduct) is implied: the act of āplava/snāna at a tīrtha is presented as a dhārmic rite with defined spiritual results, using the Aśvamedha as a benchmark for ritual merit.