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Varaha Purana 180.40: Adhyaya 180, Shloka 40

The Glory of Dhruva-Tīrtha: Rules of Ancestor Libations and Śrāddha, and the Consequences of Lineage-Continuity

श्राद्धं पिण्डोदकं दानं नित्यं नैमित्तिकं तथा ॥ नान्या गतिः पितॄणां स्यात्पितरस्तेन पुत्रिणः

Sanskrit recitationVaraha Purana 180.40

śrāddhaṁ piṇḍodakaṁ dānaṁ nityaṁ naimittikaṁ tathā || nānyā gatiḥ pitṝṇāṁ syāt pitaras tena putriṇaḥ

Śrāddha, die Piṇḍa- und Wasseropfer sowie Gaben—sowohl die täglichen (nitya) als auch die anlassbezogenen (naimittika)—es gibt für die Ahnen keinen anderen Weg. Darum heißen die Ahnen „mit Sohn“, denn durch den Sohn werden sie erhalten.

śrāddhamśrāddha rite
śrāddham:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootśrāddha (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (also possible Accusative; here as item in list)
piṇḍa-udakampiṇḍa and water-offering
piṇḍa-udakam:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootpiṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक) + udaka (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; समाहार-द्वन्द्व: piṇḍa and water-offering
dānamgift/charity
dānam:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootdāna (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular
nityamdaily/regular
nityam:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootnitya (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; used adjectivally to (śrāddha/dāna etc.)
naimittikamoccasional (for a cause)
naimittikam:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootnaimittika (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; used adjectivally
tathālikewise
tathā:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
TypeIndeclinable
Roottathā (अव्यय)
FormAdverb (क्रियाविशेषण अव्यय); sense: likewise/also
nanot
na:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Negation)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootna (अव्यय)
FormNegation particle (निषेध-निपात)
anyāother
anyā:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootanya (प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; agrees with गतिḥ
gatiḥmeans/way/destination
gatiḥ:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootgati (प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular
pitṝṇāmof the ancestors
pitṝṇām:
Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
TypeNoun
Rootpitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural
syātwould be
syāt:
Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
TypeVerb
Rootas (धातु)
FormOptative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; Parasmaipada
pitaraḥthe ancestors
pitaraḥ:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootpitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural
tenatherefore/by that
tena:
Hetu/Karaṇa (हेतु/करण)
TypeNoun
Roottad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; pronominal
putriṇaḥhaving sons
putriṇaḥ:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Predicate qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootputrin (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; predicate adjective to pitaraḥ

Varāha (default speaker framework)

Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":false}

Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":false,"speaker_role":"instructor"}

Mathura Mandala: {"is_mathura_related":false}

Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":true,"topic":"shraddha","instruction_summary":"Perform śrāddha with piṇḍa-udaka and dāna as nitya/naimittika duties; this alone is the ‘path’ sustaining the pitṛs.","karmic_consequence":"By regular śrāddha the pitṛs attain satisfaction/support and the lineage gains ‘putravat’ merit; neglect leads to pitṛ-asantoṣa and loss of ancestral support/merit."}

Vrata Mahatmya: {"has_vrata":false}

Cosmic Boar Symbolism: {"has_symbolism":false}

Philosophical Teaching: {"has_teaching":true,"teaching_type":"dharma (ṛṇa-traya / pitṛ-ṛṇa)","core_concept":"Human life is bound by pitṛ-ṛṇa; progeny and ritual action sustain intergenerational continuity.","practical_application":"Maintain regular śrāddha/tarpaṇa and charitable giving; treat ancestral care as a non-optional ethical duty."}

Subject Matter: ["Ritual Practice","Ethics","Heritage Sites"]

Primary Rasa: śānta

Secondary Rasa: karuṇa

Type: ritual-space

Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa 180.45-48 (tarpaṇa procedure and water-offering specifics)

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Varāha as divine teacher instructs on śrāddha: offerings of piṇḍa, water, and gifts arranged before a ritual seat, with pitṛs envisioned receiving satisfaction.","item_prompts":["Varāha in regal divine form (teacher posture)","piṇḍas on leaf/plate","water vessel (kalaśa)","dāna items (cloth, food)","subtle pitṛ figures in the background","ritual fire or śrāddha seat"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: Varāha as Vaiṣṇava teacher with ornate jewelry, warm earth tones; śrāddha implements neatly arrayed; faint pitṛ silhouettes behind.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style: central Varāha with gold-leaf halo; embossed vessels and piṇḍa plate; rich reds/greens; pitṛs as small gilded attendants receiving offerings.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style: delicate linework, soft shading; Varāha instructing a householder; detailed ritual utensils and calm domestic shrine setting.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari style: intimate courtyard śrāddha scene; Varāha as divine sage-like figure; stylized river/sky hinting pitṛ realm; gentle pastel palette."}

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"didactic, solemn","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium-slow","voice_tone":"steady, authoritative, compassionate"}

C
Classical Literature
Ś
Śrāddha Traditions
P
Purāṇic Narrative
V
Vaiṣṇavism

FAQs

It summarizes key categories of ancestral rites and gifts, aligning Purāṇic teaching with broader Dharma literature on śrāddha obligations.

No specific site is named; the verse is procedural and doctrinal.

It underscores sustained responsibility toward ancestors through regular and occasion-based offerings and giving.

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