Shloka 24

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

Devanagari script

तिलाज्यदधिमध्वादि पिंडद्रव्येषु योजयेत् । संबधिनस्तिलाद्यैश्च कुशैष्वावाहयेत्ततः ॥ २४ ॥

Transliteration

tilājyadadhimadhvādi piṃḍadravyeṣu yojayet | saṃbadhinastilādyaiśca kuśaiṣvāvāhayettataḥ || 24 ||

Translation

Man mische Sesam, Ghee, Dickmilch, Honig und Ähnliches in die Stoffe für die Piṇḍa-Kugeln. Dann rufe man mit Sesam und dergleichen die zugehörigen Ahnen herbei und lasse sie in die Kuśa-Grashalme einziehen.

Word by Word

• तिल-आज्य-दधि-मधु-आदि: sesame, ghee, curd, honey, etc.
• तिल-आज्य-दधि-मधु-आदि: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिल + आज्य + दधि + मधु + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन (समाहार-द्वन्द्व); ‘sesame, ghee, curd, honey, etc.’

• पिण्ड-द्रव्येषु: in the materials for the piṇḍa
• पिण्ड-द्रव्येषु: अधिकरण (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड + द्रव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पिण्डस्य द्रव्याणि)

• योजयेत्: should mix/add
• योजयेत्: विधेय क्रिया (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: युज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधि), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सम्बधिनः: the relatives (ancestors/kinsmen)
• सम्बधिनः: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम्बधिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), बहुवचन; ‘relatives/connected persons’

• तिल-आद्यैः: with sesame etc.
• तिल-आद्यैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिल + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (तिलः आदिः येषां तैः)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (Conjunction)

• कुशेषु: on/among the kuśa grass
• कुशेषु: अधिकरण (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), बहुवचन

• आवाहयेत्: should invoke/call (them)
• आवाहयेत्: विधेय क्रिया (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + वह् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधि), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: क्रियाविशेषण (Sequence/अनुक्रम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Adverb)

Speaker

Narada (instructional narration in ritual context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Pitrs
• Kuśa
• Tila

FAQs

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

It teaches the correct sanctification of piṇḍa offerings and the formal invocation (āvāhana) of the Pitṛs, emphasizing that ancestral rites must be performed with prescribed purity and method for the rite to become spiritually efficacious.

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

While primarily ritual, it supports bhakti through disciplined dharma: honoring Pitṛs as part of sacred duty, performed with reverence and correctness, becomes an offering-minded act aligned with devotional living.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Kalpa (ritual procedure) and Smṛti-based prayoga: the use of specific dravyas (tila, ghee, curd, honey) and the kuśa-āvāhana method as a technical rule for śrāddha performance.