Shloka 39

Tīrtha-vidhi (Procedure for Holy Places) — Prayāgarāja-māhātmya

Devanagari script

सक्तुभिः पिंडदानं च संयावैः पायसेन वा । बदरामलकैर्वापि पिण्याकैर्वा सुलोचने ॥ ३९ ॥

Transliteration

saktubhiḥ piṃḍadānaṃ ca saṃyāvaiḥ pāyasena vā | badarāmalakairvāpi piṇyākairvā sulocane || 39 ||

Translation

يا ذاتَ العينينِ الحَسَنَتَينِ، يجوزُ تقديمُ قُرابينِ البِنْدا (piṇḍa) بدقيقِ الشعيرِ المُحمَّص، أو بكعكِ السَّمْيَافا (saṃyāva)، أو بحلوى الأرزِّ باللبنِ «بايَسا» (pāyasa)؛ بل وبثمارِ السِّدرِ وثمارِ «آمَلاكا» (āmalaka)، أو بكُسْبِ الزيتِ أيضًا.

Word by Word

• सक्तुभिः: with parched flour
• सक्तुभिः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सक्तु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्तिः (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचनम् (Plural)

• पिण्डदानम्: offering of rice-balls (piṇḍa-offering)
• पिण्डदानम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड + दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Nom./Acc. 1st/2nd), एकवचनम् (Singular)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययम् (conjunction)

• संयावैः: with saṃyāva (a sweet preparation)
• संयावैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संयाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्तिः (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचनम् (Plural)

• पायसेन: with rice-milk (pāyasa)
• पायसेन: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पायस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः (Neuter), तृतीया-विभक्तिः (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचनम् (Singular)

• वा: or
• वा: विकल्प (Alternative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्ययम् (disjunctive particle)

• बदरामलकैः: with jujubes and āmalakas
• बदरामलकैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बदर + आमलक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः (Neuter; dvandva treated as neuter), तृतीया-विभक्तिः (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचनम् (Plural)

• वा: or
• वा: विकल्प (Alternative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्ययम् (disjunctive particle)

• अपि: also
• अपि: सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक-अव्ययम् (also/even)

• पिण्याकैः: with oil-cake/sesame-cake
• पिण्याकैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्याक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्तिः (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचनम् (Plural)

• वा: or
• वा: विकल्प (Alternative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्ययम् (disjunctive particle)

• सुलोचने: O fair-eyed one
• सुलोचने: सम्बोधन (Address/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुलोचना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः (Feminine), सम्बोधन-विभक्तिः (Vocative/8th), एकवचनम् (Singular)

Speaker

Narada (addressing a fair-eyed interlocutor; likely in an instructional dialogue)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It teaches that the merit of piṇḍa-dāna in śrāddha and tīrtha contexts depends on sincere offering and dharmic intent, and that acceptable substitutes exist when ideal materials are unavailable.

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

While primarily ritual-focused, it supports bhakti by emphasizing faithful performance of prescribed duties (pitṛ-tarpaṇa and śrāddha) as part of a devoted, dharma-aligned life that honors ancestors and sustains sacred order.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is implicit: it lists sanctioned materials for piṇḍa offerings, reflecting applied dharma-śāstra guidance for correct performance of śrāddha rites.