Shloka 6

पुंसां क्रिया-विभागः, संस्काराः, नामकरणम्, विवाहविधानम्

Devanagari script

दध्ना यवैः सबदरैर् मिश्रान् पिण्डान् मुदा युतः नान्दीमुखेभ्यस् तीर्थेन दद्याद् दैवेन पार्थिव

Transliteration

dadhnā yavaiḥ sabadarair miśrān piṇḍān mudā yutaḥ nāndīmukhebhyas tīrthena dadyād daivena pārthiva

Translation

O king, with a joyful and reverent heart one should offer piṇḍas—made by mixing barley with curds and jujube fruits—to the Nāndīmukha ancestors, presenting them with the sanctified tīrtha-water used in rites to the gods.

Word by Word

• दध्ना: with curd
• दध्ना: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

• यवैः: with barley grains
• यवैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• सबदरैः: together with jujubes (badara fruits)
• सबदरैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + बदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (बदरैः सह)

• मिश्रान्: mixed
• मिश्रान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मिश्र (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-भाव)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (पिण्डान्)

• पिण्डान्: rice-balls (piṇḍas)
• पिण्डान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• मुदा: with joy
• मुदा: Karana (Instrument/Means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुद्/मुदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भाववाचक

• युतः: endowed (with)
• युतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युत (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (PPP of √यु/√युज् ‘to join’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (कर्ता)

• नान्दीमुखेभ्यः: to the Nāndīmukhas (a class of ancestors)
• नान्दीमुखेभ्यः: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नान्दीमुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी/पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Dative/Ablative), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (नान्दी-मुख)

• तीर्थेन: with sacred water
• तीर्थेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• दद्यात्: should give, offer
• दद्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकार (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• दैवेन: as an offering to the gods / in the divine rite
• दैवेन: Karana (Instrument/Mode/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पार्थिव: O king
• पार्थिव: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (in instruction to Maitreya; the verse itself addresses a king as an archetypal recipient of dharma-teaching)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Specific śrāddha offering: piṇḍa composition for Nāndīmukha ancestors and use of sanctified water

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: ritual-technical, precise

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Auspicious ancestor rites (Nāndīmukha) require pure materials and a joyful, reverent intention, linking deva-purity (tīrtha) with pitṛ-offering.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Offer remembrance of ancestors with cleanliness, sincerity, and gratitude; let joy and reverence, not fear, guide family observances.

Vishishtadvaita: Joyful offering (mudā yutaḥ) aligns karma with bhakti—action becomes loving service within the Lord’s ordered grace.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Dasya

Characters & Entities

• Pitrs (Ancestors)
• Nāndīmukha Pitṛs
• Devas

FAQs

What is the significance of Nāndīmukha Pitṛs in the Vishnu Purana?

They represent an auspicious class of ancestors who are especially invoked in propitiatory contexts; this verse prescribes specific piṇḍa ingredients and a devotional mood for offerings to them.

How does Sage Parāśara explain proper śrāddha offering practice here?

He emphasizes correct materials (barley, curds, and badara), correct recipient category (Nāndīmukha Pitṛs), correct ritual medium (sanctified tīrtha-water), and the inner disposition of glad reverence.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Even in ritual detail, the Purāṇa frames dharma as sustaining cosmic order ultimately grounded in Vishnu’s sovereignty; ancestral rites are part of that ordered life supporting harmony between devas, humans, and Pitṛs.