Shloka 10

Description of the Rules for Charitable Gifts and Related Rites

Gaṅgā-māhātmya

Devanagari script

मासं तर्पणमात्रेण पिंडसंपातनेन च । गंगायां पितरः सर्वे सुप्रीताः सूर्यवर्चसः ॥ १० ॥

Transliteration

māsaṃ tarpaṇamātreṇa piṃḍasaṃpātanena ca | gaṃgāyāṃ pitaraḥ sarve suprītāḥ sūryavarcasaḥ || 10 ||

Translation

Durch das (selbst) schlichte Darbringen des tarpaṇa einen Monat lang und zudem durch das Opfern von piṇḍas in der Gaṅgā—werden alle Pitṛs völlig erfreut, strahlend im Glanz der Sonne.

Word by Word

• मासम्: for a month
• मासम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम्; कालावधि-निर्देशः (duration)

• तर्पणमात्रेण: by mere tarpaṇa (libation)
• तर्पणमात्रेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तर्पण + मात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे तृतीया एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (तर्पणस्य मात्रम् = mere tarpaṇa)

• पिण्डसंपातनेन: by the offering of piṇḍa
• पिण्डसंपातनेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड + संपातन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे तृतीया एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पिण्डस्य संपातनम् = offering/placing of piṇḍa)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्ययम्

• गङ्गायाम्: in the Ganges
• गङ्गायाम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे सप्तमी एकवचनम्

• पितरः: the ancestors (Pitṛs)
• पितरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम्

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• सुप्रीताः: highly pleased
• सुप्रीताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + प्रीत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• सूर्यवर्चसः: having sun-like radiance
• सूर्यवर्चसः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सूर्य + वर्चस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम्; बहुव्रीहिः (सूर्यवत् वर्चः येषाम्)

Speaker

Narada (teaching the tirtha-mahatmya and pitri-rites contextually within Uttara-Bhaga)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Ganga
• Pitrs
• Surya

FAQs

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

It declares the exceptional merit of performing ancestor-rites in the Gaṅgā: even simple tarpaṇa sustained for a month, along with piṇḍa-offerings, brings complete satisfaction to all Pitṛs.

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

While focused on Pitṛ-dharma, it aligns with bhakti-oriented purity: serving dharma at a Viṣṇu-favoured tīrtha like the Gaṅgā is presented as a potent, grace-filled act that yields results beyond ordinary effort.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It points to Kalpa (ritual procedure): tarpaṇa and piṇḍa-dāna as prescribed ancestral rites, with the tīrtha (Gaṅgā) emphasized as a multiplier of ritual efficacy.