Shloka 103

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

Devanagari script

तत्कूपयूपयोर्मध्ये कुर्वंस्तुत्रायते पितॄन् । धर्मं धर्मेश्वरं नत्वा महाबोधितरुं नमेत् ॥ १०३ ॥

Transliteration

tatkūpayūpayormadhye kurvaṃstutrāyate pitṝn | dharmaṃ dharmeśvaraṃ natvā mahābodhitaruṃ namet || 103 ||

Translation

Wer das Ritual zwischen jenem Brunnen und dem Opferpfahl (yūpa) vollzieht, erlöst die Pitṛs, die Ahnen. Nachdem er sich vor Dharma und dem Herrn des Dharma verneigt hat, soll er auch dem großen Bodhi-Baum Ehrerbietung erweisen.

Word by Word

• तत्: of that
• तत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; सर्वनाम; ‘of that’ (genitive)

• कूप-यूपयोः: of the well and the sacrificial post
• कूप-यूपयोः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कूप (प्रातिपदिक) + यूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), द्विवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास (itaretara-dvandva) ‘of the well and the sacrificial post’

• मध्ये: in the middle
• मध्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; locative ‘in the middle’

• कुर्वन्: doing, performing
• कुर्वन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ/Present active participle), प्रथमा एकवचन पुंलिङ्ग; ‘doing/performing’

• स्तुत्रायते: praises
• स्तुत्रायते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्तुत्राय (धातु; denominative from स्तुति/स्तुत्र)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; ‘praises/utters a hymn’

• पितॄन्: the ancestors
• पितॄन्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन; ‘the ancestors’

• धर्मम्: Dharma (righteousness)
• धर्मम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• धर्म-ईश्वरम्: the Lord of Dharma
• धर्म-ईश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ‘lord of dharma’

• नत्वा: having bowed
• नत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्यय; ‘having bowed’

• महाबोधि-तरुम्: the great Bodhi tree
• महाबोधि-तरुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाबोधि (प्रातिपदिक) + तरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-प्रायः ‘the great bodhi-tree’

• नमेत्: should bow
• नमेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नम् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘should bow’

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a Tirtha-Mahatmya passage of Uttara-Bhaga)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Pitrs
• Dharma
• Dharmeshvara
• Mahabodhi-taru

FAQs

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

It links sacred geography and correct ritual placement with ancestral uplift: performing the prescribed act at the indicated spot is said to ‘carry across’ the Pitṛs, while salutations to Dharma, Dharmeshvara, and the Mahābodhi-tree affirm the rite’s ethical and sanctifying foundation.

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

Bhakti appears here as reverential surrender—bowing to Dharma, its presiding Lord, and a revered sacred tree—showing that ritual efficacy is joined to humble devotion and honoring divine order.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Kalpa (ritual procedure) in specifying the correct locus for a rite and the sequence of salutations; it also implies proper mantra- and act-ordering typical of śrauta/smārta ritual discipline.