Shloka 326
Vānaprastha-dharma and Tapas: Śiva–Umā Saṃvāda
Forest-Stage Discipline and Austerity
फल वृत्तिं च मार्ग च यश्चैनं प्रतिपद्यते । यह सब मैं सुनना चाहता हूँ। तीनों पिण्डोंकी जो गति होती है, उसका जो फल, वृत्ति और मार्ग है तथा जो देवता उस पिण्डको पाता है, उन सबपर प्रकाश डालिये
phala-vṛttiṁ ca mārgaṁ ca yaś cainaṁ pratipadyate |
Der göttliche Bote sprach: „Ich wünsche zu hören von seinem Ausgang, von seiner Wirkweise (vṛtti) und von dem Pfad (mārga), auf dem es erlangt wird—und auch davon, wer es empfängt. Erhellt mir dies alles: welches Geschick die drei piṇḍas haben, welches ihre Frucht (phala), ihre Regel des Wirkens und ihr Weg ist, und welche Gottheit jeden einzelnen piṇḍa erhält.“
देवदूत उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a dharmic inquiry: ritual acts should be understood through (1) their phala (ethical/spiritual result), (2) their vṛtti (how they ‘work’—the sustaining principle and proper performance), and (3) their mārga (the correct means/path). It emphasizes informed practice—knowing the intended recipient and consequence—rather than mechanical observance.
A divine messenger is being questioned (or continues a dialogue) about the doctrine surrounding offerings called ‘piṇḍas’ (as clarified by the accompanying Hindi gloss). The speaker asks for an explanation of the fate/gati of the three piṇḍas, the results they yield, the manner in which they operate, the path by which they are properly directed, and which deity is said to receive each.