Shloka 94

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

Devanagari script

अमृतैः पंचभिः स्नातं पुष्पवस्त्राद्यलंकृतम् । न कुर्याद्यो गदापाणिं तस्य श्राद्धमपार्थकम् ॥ ९४ ॥

Transliteration

amṛtaiḥ paṃcabhiḥ snātaṃ puṣpavastrādyalaṃkṛtam | na kuryādyo gadāpāṇiṃ tasya śrāddhamapārthakam || 94 ||

Translation

Selbst wenn man mit den fünf „Nektaren“ gebadet und mit Blumen, Gewändern und dergleichen geschmückt hat: Wer das Ritual nicht Gadāpāṇi—Viṣṇu, der die Keule trägt—darbringt, dessen Śrāddha bleibt fruchtlos.

Word by Word

• अमृतैः: with nectars (amṛtas)
• अमृतैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• पञ्चभिः: with five
• पञ्चभिः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च (प्रातिपदिक/संख्याशब्द)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying अमृतैः)

• स्नातम्: bathed
• स्नातम्: विशेष्य-भाव (Predicative/qualifying)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्ना (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘bathed/washed’

• पुष्पवस्त्रादि-अलंकृतम्: adorned with flowers, garments, etc.
• पुष्पवस्त्रादि-अलंकृतम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक) + वस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + अलंकृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (पुष्प-वस्त्र-आदि-भिः अलंकृतम् = adorned with flowers, garments, etc.)

• न: not
• न: निषेध (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• कुर्यात्: should do/perform
• कुर्यात्: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• यः: who
• यः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सम्बन्धबोधक (relative pronoun)

• गदापाणिम्: the mace-handed (Viṣṇu)
• गदापाणिम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गदा (प्रातिपदिक) + पाणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—बहुव्रीहि (गदा पाणौ यस्य सः = one whose hand holds a mace)

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• श्राद्धम्: the śrāddha rite
• श्राद्धम्: कर्ता/विषय (Subject/topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• अपार्थकम्: fruitless
• अपार्थकम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ (उपसर्ग/निषेध) + पार्थक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying श्राद्धम्)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It teaches that external ritual refinement (pañcāmṛta bath, adornments) is incomplete without dedicating the śrāddha to Viṣṇu (Gadāpāṇi); the rite gains efficacy through Vaiṣṇava orientation.

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

It prioritizes devotion and surrender of the act to Viṣṇu over mere ceremonial perfection, implying that bhakti is the inner force that makes the ritual spiritually fruitful.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Kalpa (ritual procedure) through the mention of pañcāmṛta abhiṣeka and proper dedication (saṅkalpa/arpana) of śrāddha to the presiding deity, emphasizing correct ritual intent and recipient.