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Shloka 37

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

कृतकृत्यं निजात्मानं मेने प्रत्यक्षभाषणात् । भीष्मो विष्णुपदे श्राद्ध आहूय तु पितॄन्स्वकान् ॥ ३७ ॥

kṛtakṛtyaṃ nijātmānaṃ mene pratyakṣabhāṣaṇāt | bhīṣmo viṣṇupade śrāddha āhūya tu pitṝnsvakān || 37 ||

Durch das unmittelbare Wort in jener heiligen Begebenheit hielt Bhīṣma sich selbst für vollends seiner Pflicht ledig. Dann vollzog er in Viṣṇupada das śrāddha und rief ordnungsgemäß seine eigenen pitṛs, die Ahnen, herbei.

kṛta-kṛtyamhaving accomplished his duty
kṛta-kṛtyam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Rootkṛta (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त from √kṛ/कृ) + kṛtya (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); karmadhāraya—‘one whose duty is done/accomplished’ qualifying nijātmānam
nija-ātmānamhis own self
nija-ātmānam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootnija (प्रातिपदिक) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); karmadhāraya—‘one’s own self’
meneconsidered/thought
mene:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootman (धातु)
FormPerfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद)
pratyakṣa-bhāṣaṇātfrom the direct statement
pratyakṣa-bhāṣaṇāt:
Hetu (हेतु/अपादान)
TypeNoun
Rootpratyakṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + bhāṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa—‘from direct speech/visible utterance’
bhīṣmaḥBhīṣma
bhīṣmaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootbhīṣma (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)
viṣṇu-padeat Viṣṇupada
viṣṇu-pade:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootviṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक) + pada (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa—‘at Viṣṇu’s place/foot (holy place)’
śrāddhamśrāddha rite
śrāddham:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootśrāddha (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)
āhūyahaving invoked
āhūya:
Pūrvakāla (पूर्वकाल)
TypeVerb
Rootā-hū (धातु)
FormAbsolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्) ‘having invoked/called’
tuindeed/and then
tu:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Roottu (अव्यय)
FormParticle (निपात) with contrast/emphasis
pitṝnthe fathers/ancestors
pitṝn:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootpitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)
svakānhis own
svakān:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootsvaka (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन); qualifying pitṝn

Suta (narrator) [contextual narration within Uttara-Bhaga tirtha-mahatmya style]

Vrata: none

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

B
Bhishma
V
Vishnu
V
Vishnupada
P
Pitrs (ancestors)

FAQs

It presents Viṣṇupada as a powerful tīrtha where direct sacred utterance and śrāddha for one’s pitṛs are considered spiritually fulfilling, emphasizing completion of dharma through ancestral honoring in a Viṣṇu-sanctified place.

By placing śrāddha within Viṣṇupada, the verse frames ancestral rites as harmonized with Viṣṇu-bhakti—devotion is expressed not only by praise but also by dharmic acts performed at a Viṣṇu-tīrtha.

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is implicit: invoking the pitṛs and performing śrāddha at an appropriate tīrtha reflects applied smārta-ritual discipline rather than grammar or astrology.