Shloka 3

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

Devanagari script

श्राद्धाय पिंडदानाय तर्पणायार्थसिद्धये । तत्कूपयूपयोर्मध्ये कुर्वंस्तारयते पितॄन् ॥ ३ ॥

Transliteration

śrāddhāya piṃḍadānāya tarpaṇāyārthasiddhaye | tatkūpayūpayormadhye kurvaṃstārayate pitṝn || 3 ||

Translation

Um śrāddha zu vollziehen, piṇḍa-dāna (Reisbällchen) darzubringen und tarpaṇa (Wasserlibationen) zu spenden, damit das Ritual Frucht trägt—wer dies zwischen jenem Brunnen und dem Opferpfahl (yūpa) ausführt, erhebt und erlöst die Pitṛs, die Ahnen.

Word by Word

• श्राद्धाय: for śrāddha (rite)
• श्राद्धाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; प्रयोजन/सम्प्रदानार्थे (for the purpose of)

• पिण्ड-दानाय: for offering rice-balls
• पिण्ड-दानाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक) + दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पिण्डस्य दानम्)

• तर्पणाय: for libation/satiation offering
• तर्पणाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तर्पण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थे

• अर्थ-सिद्धये: for the accomplishment of the intended purpose
• अर्थ-सिद्धये: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + सिद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (अर्थस्य सिद्धिः)

• तत्-कूप-यूपयोः: of that well and sacrificial post
• तत्-कूप-यूपयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + कूप (प्रातिपदिक) + यूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), द्विवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (कूपश्च यूपश्च) तत्-सम्बन्धः

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

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

• तारयते: saves/causes to be delivered
• तारयते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तॄ (धातु) [तारयति-प्रयोगः, णिच् causative]
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative: causes to cross/save)

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

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Pitrs

FAQs

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

It teaches that properly performed ancestral rites (śrāddha, piṇḍa-dāna, tarpaṇa) at a specifically sanctified tirtha-location are believed to directly aid and uplift one’s pitṛs, ensuring the rite’s intended fruit (arthasiddhi).

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

While primarily ritual-focused, it supports bhakti through reverent duty (dharma) toward one’s lineage and sacred places; honoring pitṛs in a consecrated tirtha context is treated as a devotional act that aligns the practitioner with sacred order.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Kalpa (ritual procedure) by specifying the rite-types (śrāddha, piṇḍa-dāna, tarpaṇa) and the importance of precise ritual location (between a kūpa and yūpa) for obtaining the promised result.