Shloka 53

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

Devanagari script

विष्ण्वादीना पदान्यत्र लिंगरूपस्थितानि च । देवादितर्पणं कृत्वा श्राद्धं रुद्रपदादितः ॥ ५३ ॥

Transliteration

viṣṇvādīnā padānyatra liṃgarūpasthitāni ca | devāditarpaṇaṃ kṛtvā śrāddhaṃ rudrapadāditaḥ || 53 ||

Translation

Hier sind die heiligen „Fußspuren“ (pāda) Viṣṇus und anderer in sinnbildlichen Formen (gleichsam liṅga-gestaltig) gegenwärtig. Nachdem man tarpaṇa, die Wasserlibationen für die Devas und die zugehörigen Wesen, dargebracht hat, soll man das śrāddha-Ritual vollziehen, beginnend beim Rudra-pāda (Rudras heiliger Fußspur).

Word by Word

• विष्णु-आदीनाम्: of Vishnu and others
• विष्णु-आदीनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठीविभक्ति (Genitive/षष्ठी), बहुवचन (Plural); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (आदि-शब्देन सह)

• पदानि: words/terms
• पदानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), बहुवचन (Plural)

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय—देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (indeclinable adverb of place)

• लिङ्ग-रूप-स्थितानि: present in the form of a liṅga
• लिङ्ग-रूप-स्थितानि: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लिङ्ग + रूप + स्थित (कृदन्त; √स्था धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (लिङ्गरूपे स्थितानि)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय—समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• देव-आदि-तर्पणम्: libation/oblation to the gods etc.
• देव-आदि-तर्पणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + आदि + तर्पण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (देवादीनां तर्पणम्)

• कृत्वा: having performed
• कृत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), ‘having done’

• श्राद्धम्: śrāddha rite
• श्राद्धम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular)

• रुद्र-पद-आदितः: starting from the word ‘Rudra’ / from Rudra-terms onward
• रुद्र-पद-आदितः: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: रुद्र + पद + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय—तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त (ablatival adverb ‘from’); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (रुद्रपदादि-शब्दात्)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Rudra

FAQs

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

It frames a tīrtha as a place where divine presence is accessible through recognizable sacred markers (pādas), and teaches that honoring devas (through tarpaṇa) and pitṛs (through śrāddha) in the correct sequence sanctifies one’s pilgrimage and duty (dharma).

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

Bhakti here is ritualized remembrance: approaching Viṣṇu and other deities through their sacred signs (pādas) and performing offerings with reverence. The act of beginning śrāddha from Rudra-pāda reflects devotional discipline and respect for the tīrtha’s prescribed order.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual procedure (kalpa/ācāra) is emphasized: performing devādi-tarpaṇa first and then śrāddha, with attention to the correct starting point (Rudra-pāda), reflecting rule-based liturgical sequencing.