Shloka 54

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

Devanagari script

पितृवंशे मृता ये च मातृवंशे च ये मृताः । गुरुश्वशुरबंधूनां ये चान्ये बांधवा मृताः ॥ ५४ ॥

Transliteration

pitṛvaṃśe mṛtā ye ca mātṛvaṃśe ca ye mṛtāḥ | guruśvaśurabaṃdhūnāṃ ye cānye bāṃdhavā mṛtāḥ || 54 ||

Translation

Alle, die in der väterlichen Linie gestorben sind, und alle, die in der mütterlichen Linie gestorben sind; ebenso die Verstorbenen unter den Verwandten des Guru und des Schwiegervaters sowie alle anderen dahingegangenen Angehörigen—sie alle sind zu gedenken und zu bedenken mit Opfergabe.

Word by Word

• पितृ-वंशे: in the paternal line
• पितृ-वंशे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक) + वंश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (of father + lineage)

• मृताः: dead
• मृताः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृ (धातु) → मृत (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

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

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

• मातृ-वंशे: in the maternal line
• मातृ-वंशे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ (प्रातिपदिक) + वंश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (of mother + lineage)

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

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

• मृताः: dead
• मृताः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृ (धातु) → मृत (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• गुरु-श्वशुर-बन्धूनाम्: of (my) teachers, fathers-in-law, and relatives
• गुरु-श्वशुर-बन्धूनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक) + श्वशुर (प्रातिपदिक) + बन्धु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (guru + father-in-law + relatives)

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

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

• अन्ये: other
• अन्ये: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• बांधवाः: kinsmen
• बांधवाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बान्धव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• मृताः: dead
• मृताः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृ (धातु) → मृत (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

FAQs

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

It broadens the scope of Pitṛ-kārya by directing remembrance and offerings not only to one’s direct ancestors but also to maternal kin and other departed relations, emphasizing gratitude (ṛṇa) and continuity of lineage through dharmic rites.

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

While primarily a dharma-ritual instruction, it supports bhakti indirectly by teaching reverent remembrance and selfless duty; such disciplined observance purifies the mind and aligns household life with devotion-centered righteousness.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is implied: the verse functions like a ritual eligibility list—who should be included in tarpaṇa/śrāddha sankalpa—helping the practitioner correctly frame offerings according to dharmic rules.