Shloka 91

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

Devanagari script

नत्वा पितामहं देवं मंत्रेणानेन पूजयेत् । फल्गुतीर्थे नरः स्नात्वा दृष्ट्वा देवं गदाधरम् ॥ ९१ ॥

Transliteration

natvā pitāmahaṃ devaṃ maṃtreṇānena pūjayet | phalgutīrthe naraḥ snātvā dṛṣṭvā devaṃ gadādharam || 91 ||

Translation

Having bowed to the divine Pitāmaha (Brahmā), one should worship him with this very mantra. One who bathes at Phalgu-tīrtha and beholds Lord Gadādhara (Viṣṇu, bearer of the mace) attains the intended sacred merit.

Word by Word

• नत्वा: having bowed
• नत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund), ‘having bowed’

• पितामहम्: Pitāmaha (Brahmā)
• पितामहम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितामह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म

• देवम्: the god
• देवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समानाधिकरण (apposition to पितामहम्)

• मन्त्रेण: with a mantra
• मन्त्रेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; करण (instrument)

• अनेन: with this
• अनेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम; ‘with this’ (refers to the mantra)

• पूजयेत्: should worship
• पूजयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• फल्गुतीर्थे: at Phalgu-tirtha
• फल्गुतीर्थे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल्गु-तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; अधिकरण

• नरः: a man
• नरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्ता

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

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund)

• देवम्: the god
• देवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म (object of seeing)

• गदाधरम्: Gadādhara (the mace-bearer, Viṣṇu)
• गदाधरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गदा-धर (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण/उपाधि (epithet of देवम्)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Vishnu
• Gadadhara
• Phalgu Tirtha

FAQs

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

It teaches a complete tirtha-practice: reverence to Brahmā (Pitāmaha), mantra-based worship, sacred bathing at Phalgu-tīrtha, and Viṣṇu’s darśana as Gadādhara—acts that together generate tīrtha-phala (pilgrimage merit).

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

Bhakti is expressed through embodied devotion—bowing (namaskāra), worship with mantra (pūjā), and seeking darśana of Gadādhara—showing that devotion is practiced through reverent action at holy places.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual application is emphasized: correct use of a specified mantra in pūjā and the prescribed act of tīrtha-snāna, reflecting practical kalpa-style procedure (ritual discipline) rather than theory.