Shloka 48

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

Devanagari script

गयाशिरसि यः पिंडं शमीपत्रप्रमाणतः । कंदमूलफलाद्यैर्वा दद्यात्स्वर्गं नयेत्पितॄन् ॥ ४८ ॥

Transliteration

gayāśirasi yaḥ piṃḍaṃ śamīpatrapramāṇataḥ | kaṃdamūlaphalādyairvā dadyātsvargaṃ nayetpitṝn || 48 ||

Translation

Whoever, at Gayā-śiras, offers a piṇḍa (the śrāddha rice-ball) measured to the size of a śamī leaf—or even offers it with bulbs, roots, fruits, and the like—leads the Pitṛs, his ancestors, to heaven.

Word by Word

• गया-शिरसि: on Gayā’s head (at Gayāśiras)
• गया-शिरसि: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गया (प्रातिपदिक) + शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः) — ‘गयायाः शिरसि’ (locative: on the head/top of Gayā)

• यः: who
• यः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक-यः (relative pronoun)

• पिण्डम्: rice-ball offering (piṇḍa)
• पिण्डम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• शमी-पत्र-प्रमाणतः: according to the measure of a śamī leaf
• शमी-पत्र-प्रमाणतः: क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyāviśeṣaṇa/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शमी (प्रातिपदिक) + पत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रमाण (प्रातिपदिक) + तस् (अव्यय-प्रत्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (तसिल्/तस्-प्रत्ययः) — ‘प्रमाणतः’ = ‘according to measure’; समासः: शमीपत्रप्रमाण (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः) — ‘शमीपत्रस्य प्रमाणम्’

• कन्द-मूल-फल-आद्यैः: with tubers, roots, fruits, etc.
• कन्द-मूल-फल-आद्यैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कन्द (प्रातिपदिक) + मूल (प्रातिपदिक) + फल (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व-समासः (समाहार-द्वन्द्वः) — ‘कन्दमूलफलादि’ = tubers, roots, fruits, etc.

• वा: or
• वा: समुच्चय/विकल्प (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक-निपात (particle of alternative)

• दद्यात्: should offer/give
• दद्यात्: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person/प्रथमपुरुष), एकवचन

• स्वर्गम्: heaven
• स्वर्गम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• नयेत्: should lead
• नयेत्: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नी (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• पितॄन्: the ancestors (pitṛs)
• पितॄन्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन

Speaker

Suta (narrating Narada Purana dialogue/tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Gaya (Gayā-śiras)
• Pitrs (ancestors)
• Shami (śamī tree/leaf)

FAQs

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

It declares the exceptional merit of Gayā-śiras for ancestral rites: even a small, properly intended piṇḍa offering there is said to elevate the pitṛs to svarga.

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

By emphasizing sacred place and sincere offering over material abundance, it supports a bhakti-oriented dharma where faith and right intention in a tirtha-kṣetra are central to spiritual results.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual procedure (Kalpa/Śrauta-Smārta practice) is implied: the verse specifies a measurable standard (śamī-leaf size) and permits substitute materials (roots/fruits), reflecting pragmatic rules used in śrāddha performance.