Shloka 69

The Procedure for Offering Piṇḍa (Funerary Rice-balls) — Gayā-māhātmya

Devanagari script

स्नात्वाथ तर्पणं कुर्याद्देवादीनां यथाविधि । आब्रह्मस्तंबपर्यंतं देवर्षिपितृमानवाः ॥ ६९ ॥

Transliteration

snātvātha tarpaṇaṃ kuryāddevādīnāṃ yathāvidhi | ābrahmastaṃbaparyaṃtaṃ devarṣipitṛmānavāḥ || 69 ||

Translation

After bathing, one should duly perform tarpaṇa—libations of satisfaction—for the gods and the rest, according to the prescribed rite, extending to all beings from Brahmā down to a blade of grass: the gods, the ṛṣis, the Pitṛs, and humankind.

Word by Word

• स्नात्वा: having bathed
• स्नात्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्ना (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund); ‘having bathed’

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/then (particle)

• तर्पणम्: libation/oblatory offering (tarpana)
• तर्पणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तर्पण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/2nd), एकवचन; accusative singular

• कुर्यात्: should perform
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; parasmaipada

• देव-आदीनाम्: of the gods and others
• देव-आदीनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समाहारार्थ ‘देवाः आदयः’ (देवप्रभृतीनाम्); पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध/6th), बहुवचन; genitive plural

• यथा-विधि: according to the prescribed procedure
• यथा-विधि: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव; क्रियाविशेषण; ‘according to rule’

• आ-ब्रह्म-स्तम्ब-पर्यन्तम्: from Brahmā down to a blade of grass (i.e., all beings)
• आ-ब्रह्म-स्तम्ब-पर्यन्तम्: Desha/Avadhi (अवधि)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ (अव्यय) + ब्रह्म (प्रातिपदिक) + स्तम्ब (प्रातिपदिक) + पर्यन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव; अव्ययत्वेन प्रयुक्तम्; सीमा/extent adverbial: ‘up to Brahmā down to a blade of grass’

• देव-ऋषि-पितृ-मानवाः: gods, sages, ancestors, and humans
• देव-ऋषि-पितृ-मानवाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक) + पितृ (प्रातिपदिक) + मानव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता/1st), बहुवचन; nominative plural

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Deva
• Rishi
• Pitrs

FAQs

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

It teaches that sacred bathing is completed by tarpaṇa—an act of gratitude and cosmic reciprocity—honoring all levels of life, from Brahmā to even the smallest beings, thereby cultivating humility and dharmic completeness in tirtha-practice.

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

By prescribing reverent offerings after purification, it frames devotion as disciplined service (seva) expressed through scripturally guided acts that respect the divine order—gods, sages, and ancestors—supporting a Vishnu-bhakti lifestyle rooted in dharma.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights Kalpa (ritual procedure) through the instruction yathāvidhi—performing tarpaṇa according to prescribed rules—linking tirtha-snana to correctly ordered rites for devas, ṛṣis, and pitṛs.