Shloka 25
Nāga–Nāgabhāryā Saṃvāda: Varṇa-Dharma, Gṛhastha-Discipline, and Mokṣa-Self-Inquiry
Mahābhārata 12.347
एषा तस्य स्थितिर्विप्र पितर: पिण्डसंज्ञिता: । लभन्ते सततं पूजां वृषाकपिवचो यथा
eṣā tasya sthitir vipra pitaraḥ piṇḍasaṃjñitāḥ | labhante satataṃ pūjāṃ vṛṣākapivaco yathā, brahman |
Nārada said: “O brāhmaṇa, this is the ordained order established by Him: the Pitṛs are designated as ‘piṇḍa’, and in accordance with the words of Vṛṣākapi they continually receive worship.”
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
That honoring the ancestors through piṇḍa-offerings is a divinely sanctioned dharmic institution; the Pitṛs, being ‘piṇḍa-saṃjñita’, are entitled to continual reverence, reinforcing gratitude and responsibility toward lineage and society.
Nārada explains to a brāhmaṇa the established rule by which the Pitṛs are connected with the piṇḍa offering and therefore receive ongoing worship, citing authoritative ‘words of Vṛṣākapi’ as the validating tradition.