Shloka 11

The Greatness of Offering Piṇḍas at Viṣṇvādipada (Viṣṇupada) — Gayā Śrāddha Procedure and Fruits

Devanagari script

ताभ्यां बलिं प्रयच्छामि पितॄणां मुक्तिहेतवे । ततः श्वानबलिं कृत्वा पूर्वमन्त्रेण मोहिनि ॥ ११ ॥

Transliteration

tābhyāṃ baliṃ prayacchāmi pitṝṇāṃ muktihetave | tataḥ śvānabaliṃ kṛtvā pūrvamantreṇa mohini || 11 ||

Translation

„Mit diesen Gaben bringe ich ein Bali dar, um die Befreiung der Pitṛs zu bewirken. Dann, o Mohinī, nachdem man das Opfer für die Hunde vollzogen hat, soll man es mit dem zuvor genannten Mantra darbringen.“

Word by Word

• ताभ्याम्: to those two
• ताभ्याम्: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया/चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Instr./Dat.), द्विवचन; अत्र चतुर्थी (to those two) अधिकयुक्ता

• बलिम्: offering
• बलिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• प्रयच्छामि: I offer/give
• प्रयच्छामि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + यम्/यच्छ् (धातु, यच्छति-आदेशः)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• पितṝणाम्: of the ancestors
• पितṝणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), बहुवचन

• मुक्ति-हेतवे: for (their) liberation
• मुक्ति-हेतवे: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/चतुर्थी-अर्थ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + हेतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (मुक्तेः हेतुः) = ‘for the sake of liberation’

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रमवाचक (sequencing adverb)

• श्वान-बलिम्: offering for the dog(s)
• श्वान-बलिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्वन्/श्वान (प्रातिपदिक) + बलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (श्वानस्य बलिः)

• कृत्वा: having made
• कृत्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कृ (धातु) ; क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (Kṛdanta-Avyaya)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund) = ‘having done/made’

• पूर्व-मन्त्रेण: with the previous mantra
• पूर्व-मन्त्रेण: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन; कर्मधारय = ‘पूर्वः मन्त्रः’

• मोहिनि: O Mohinī
• मोहिनि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोहिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन

Speaker

Narada (instructional narration within a ritual context; addressed to a female interlocutor styled as Mohinī)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Pitrs
• Mohini

FAQs

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

It frames bali-offerings as a dharmic act directed toward pitṛ-mukti—supporting the ancestors’ onward progress—followed by a prescribed offering to dogs, showing ritual completeness and compassion to all beings.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as reverent, disciplined service—performing offerings with mantra and right intent for the welfare of the Pitṛs—linking devotion to responsible ritual action (karma done in a sacred spirit).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Mantra-prayoga (correct application of a stated mantra) and ritual sequencing are emphasized—skills grounded in Kalpa (ritual procedure) and supported by Śikṣā (proper recitation).