Shloka 15

The Greatness of Offering Piṇḍas at Viṣṇvādipada (Viṣṇupada) — Gayā Śrāddha Procedure and Fruits

Devanagari script

फल्गुतीर्थे चतुर्थे च स्नानादिकमथाचरेत् । गयाशिरस्यथो श्राद्धं पदे कुर्यात्सपिंडकम् ॥ १५ ॥

Transliteration

phalgutīrthe caturthe ca snānādikamathācaret | gayāśirasyatho śrāddhaṃ pade kuryātsapiṃḍakam || 15 ||

Translation

ثمّ في فالغو تيرثا (Phalgu-tīrtha) وفي الموضع المقدّس الرابع، يُؤدَّى الاغتسال وما يتبعه من شعائر. وبعد ذلك، في غيَاشيراس (Gayāśiras) تُقام شعائر الشرادّها (śrāddha)، وعند أثر قدم فيشنو تُؤدَّى شعيرة السابِنديكَرَنا (sapiṇḍīkaraṇa).

Word by Word

• फल्गु-तीर्थे: at Phalgu-tīrtha
• फल्गु-तीर्थे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल्गु (प्रातिपदिक) + तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: फल्गोः तीर्थम्/फल्गु-नद्याः तीर्थम्; नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• चतुर्थे: on the fourth (day)
• चतुर्थे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine) / नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter) सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular); ‘(दिवसे) चतुर्थे’ इति लुप्त-विशेष्य

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

• स्नान-आदिकम्: bathing and related rites
• स्नान-आदिकम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक) + क (प्रातिपदिक-प्रत्यय)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: स्नानम् आदिः यस्य तत् (snāna etc.); नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• अथ: then
• अथ: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अनन्तरार्थक (then/thereupon)

• आचरेत्: should perform/practise
• आचरेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपद

• गया-शिरसि: at Gayāśiras (Gayā’s peak)
• गया-शिरसि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गया (प्रातिपदिक) + शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: गयायाः शिरः (the head/peak of Gayā); नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• अथो: then
• अथो: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय) + उ (निपात)
• Form: अव्यय, अनन्तरार्थक/समुच्चयार्थक (then/and then); ‘अथ + उ’

• श्राद्धम्: śrāddha rite
• श्राद्धम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• पदे: at the footprint/holy spot (pada)
• पदे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• कुर्यात्: should do
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपद

• स-पिण्डकम्: with piṇḍa offerings
• स-पिण्डकम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (अव्यय/उपसर्गसदृश) + पिण्डक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सह-समासभाव): पिण्डकैः सह/पिण्डयुक्तम्; नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); श्राद्धम् इति विशेषण

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Phalgu (river/tirtha)
• Gaya
• Gayaśiras
• Viṣṇupada
• Pitṛs (ancestors)

FAQs

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

It prescribes a sacred sequence at Gaya-region tirthas—purificatory bathing, then śrāddha, culminating in sapiṇḍīkaraṇa at Viṣṇupada—presenting tirtha-yatra as a complete path for purification and ancestral uplift.

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

By directing the final rite to Viṣṇupada (the Lord’s footprint), it frames ancestral duties as offerings anchored in Viṣṇu-centered sanctity, where dharma is fulfilled through reverence to the Lord at a maha-tirtha.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is emphasized—specific places and the ordered performance of snāna, śrāddha, and sapiṇḍīkaraṇa—showing applied śrauta/smārta ritual logic within a tirtha-mahātmya context.