Shloka 24

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

Devanagari script

आवसथ्यपदे श्राद्धी सोमलोकपवाप्नुयात् । श्राद्ध कृत्वा चंद्रपदे शक्रलोकं नयेत्पितॄन् ॥ २४ ॥

Transliteration

āvasathyapade śrāddhī somalokapavāpnuyāt | śrāddha kṛtvā caṃdrapade śakralokaṃ nayetpitṝn || 24 ||

Translation

مَن أقامَ الشرادها في موضعِ آڤاساثيا-پادا (Āvasathya) بلغَ عالمَ سوما (Soma-loka). ومَن أقامَ الشرادها في تشاندراپادا (Candrapada) ساقَ الآباءَ الأسلاف (Pitṛ) إلى عالمِ شَكرا (Śakra/إندرا).

Word by Word

• आवसथ्यपदे: in the Āvasathya pada/position
• आवसथ्यपदे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आवसथ्य-पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (आवसथ्यस्य पदम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Neuter, Locative, Singular

• श्राद्धी: the śrāddha-performer
• श्राद्धी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्धिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Nominative, Singular; agent noun ‘one who performs śrāddha’

• सोमलोकम्: Soma-world
• सोमलोकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सोम-लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (सोमस्य लोकः); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अप: (preverb) fully/unto
• अप: Upasarga (उपसर्ग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अप (उपसर्ग)
• Form: उपसर्ग (preverb) attached to √आप्; intensifies/qualifies meaning

• आप्नुयात्: would attain
• आप्नुयात्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Parasmaipada; with उपसर्ग ‘अप-’; ‘may attain’

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

• कृत्वा: having performed
• कृत्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकाल; having done

• चन्द्रपदे: in the ‘Chandra’ pada/position
• चन्द्रपदे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्द्र-पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (चन्द्रस्य पदम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Neuter, Locative, Singular

• शक्रलोकम्: Śakra’s world (Indra’s heaven)
• शक्रलोकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्र-लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (शक्रस्य लोकः); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• नयेत्: would lead
• नयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नी (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Parasmaipada; ‘may lead’

• पितॄन्: the ancestors (pitṛs)
• पितॄन्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Masculine, Accusative, Plural

Speaker

Suta (narrating the teaching as transmitted in the Purana; the instruction itself is traditionally attributed to the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue stream)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Soma
• Candra
• Śakra (Indra)
• Pitṛs

FAQs

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

It links precise śrāddha performance (done at prescribed padas/positions) with specific posthumous outcomes—benefit to the performer (Somaloka) and upliftment of the pitṛs (Śakraloka).

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

Though framed as ritual-phala, it supports bhakti indirectly by emphasizing faithful performance of dharmic rites for pitṛs; such reverent duty (pitṛ-bhakti) is treated as a supporting limb of a righteous, God-centered life.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is primary: the verse presumes correct placement/position (pada) and proper execution of śrāddha to yield specific, text-authorized results.