Shloka 40

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

Devanagari script

अजातदंता ये केचिद्ये च गर्भे प्रपीडिताः । तेषामुद्धरणार्थाय इमं पिंडं ददाम्यहम् ॥ ४० ॥

Transliteration

ajātadaṃtā ye kecidye ca garbhe prapīḍitāḥ | teṣāmuddharaṇārthāya imaṃ piṃḍaṃ dadāmyaham || 40 ||

Translation

যাঁরা দাঁত ওঠার আগেই (শিশু অবস্থায়) প্রয়াত হয়েছেন, এবং যাঁরা গর্ভেই কষ্ট পেয়ে বিনষ্ট হয়েছেন—তাঁদের উদ্ধারের জন্য আমি এই পিণ্ড অর্পণ করি।

Word by Word

• अजात-दन्ताः: those whose teeth have not erupted (toothless infants)
• अजात-दन्ताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अजात (कृदन्त; √जन् (धातु) + क्त, with negation sense 'not arisen') + दन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहि समासः (अजाता दन्ता येषां ते)

• ये: who
• ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• केचित्: some
• केचित्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; अनिश्चितार्थक सर्वनाम (some)

• ये: who
• ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय

• गर्भे: in the womb
• गर्भे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गर्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• प्रपीडिताः: afflicted (in the womb)
• प्रपीडिताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रपीडित (कृदन्त; √पीड् (धातु) + क्त, with उपसर्ग प्र-)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (afflicted/oppressed)

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• उद्धरण-अर्थाय: for deliverance
• उद्धरण-अर्थाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उद्धरण (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष

• इमम्: this
• इमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• पिण्डम्: piṇḍa offering
• पिण्डम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ददामि: I give
• ददामि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दा (धातु) (दा-दान)
• Form: लट्-लकार, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Narratorial/ritual voice of the performer (yajamāna) as presented by Sage Nārada in instruction

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It extends śrāddha-compassion to vulnerable departed beings—infants and those who died in the womb—affirming that piṇḍadāna can be dedicated for their upliftment (uddharaṇa).

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

Bhakti here appears as compassionate dharma: the devotee performs sacred offerings with a prayerful intention to relieve suffering and aid the departed, aligning ritual action with a benevolent, devotional heart.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is implied: the verse functions like a viniyoga-style statement for piṇḍadāna, specifying the recipient category (infants/garbha-afflicted) and the purpose (uddharaṇa) of the offering.