Shloka 41

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

Devanagari script

रामो रुद्रपदे रम्ये पिंडार्पणकृतोद्यमः । पिता दशरथः स्वर्गात्प्रसार्य करमागतः ॥ ४१ ॥

Transliteration

rāmo rudrapade ramye piṃḍārpaṇakṛtodyamaḥ | pitā daśarathaḥ svargātprasārya karamāgataḥ || 41 ||

Translation

At the lovely sacred place called Rudrapada, Rāma set about offering the ancestral piṇḍas. Then his father Daśaratha came from heaven, extending his hand to receive the offering.

Word by Word

• रामः: Rāma
• रामः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• रुद्रपदे: at Rudra’s place (Rudrapada)
• रुद्रपदे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र-पद (प्रातिपदिक; रुद्र + पद)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Neuter, Locative, Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (रुद्रस्य पदम्)

• रम्ये: beautiful
• रम्ये: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Neuter, Locative, Singular; agrees with रुद्रपदे

• पिण्डार्पणकृतोद्यमः: intent on performing the piṇḍa-offering
• पिण्डार्पणकृतोद्यमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पिण्ड-अर्पण-कृत-उद्यम (प्रातिपदिक; पिण्ड + अर्पण + कृत + उद्यम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Masculine, Nominative, Singular; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः: (पिण्डस्य अर्पणम्) + कृत (done) + उद्यम (effort) → ‘one whose effort is made for offering piṇḍa’

• पिता: father
• पिता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• दशरथः: Daśaratha
• दशरथः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दशरथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• स्वर्गात्: from heaven
• स्वर्गात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Masculine, Ablative (5th), Singular

• प्रसार्य: having extended
• प्रसार्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + सृ (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्/क्त्वान्त-समकक्ष-अव्यय (gerund), ‘having stretched forth’ — absolutive from √सृ with प्र-

• करम्: hand
• करम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• आगतः: came/appeared
• आगतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

Suta (narrating the tīrtha-māhātmya within Uttara-bhāga)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Rudrapada
• Dasharatha
• Svarga

FAQs

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

It highlights the efficacy of tīrtha-based śrāddha: sincere piṇḍa offerings performed at a revered sacred spot are portrayed as directly reaching the ancestors, symbolized by Daśaratha appearing from svarga to receive them.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as reverent duty (pitṛ-bhakti and dharma): Rāma’s devoted performance of ancestral rites at a holy tīrtha demonstrates that devotion includes honoring lineage and sacred obligations, not only personal worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual application rooted in Kalpa (śrauta/smārta procedure): the verse points to piṇḍārpaṇa as a regulated rite of śrāddha performed at a tīrtha, emphasizing correct ritual action and appropriate sacred location.