Shloka 23
The Procedure for Offering Piṇḍa (Funerary Rice-balls) — Gayā-māhātmya
गृहीत्वांजलिना तेभ्यः पितृतीर्थेन यत्नतः । सक्तना मुष्टिमात्रेण दद्यादक्षय्यपिंडकम् ॥ २३ ॥
gṛhītvāṃjalinā tebhyaḥ pitṛtīrthena yatnataḥ | saktanā muṣṭimātreṇa dadyādakṣayyapiṃḍakam || 23 ||
Tomando con esmero el agua para ellos en las manos ahuecadas, mediante el Pitṛ-tīrtha de la mano, ofrézcase un piṇḍa imperecedero—solo un puñado—mezclado con granos de cebada.
Sage Nārada (teaching śrāddha/pitṛ-vidhi within Uttara-bhāga tīrtha-māhātmya narration)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
FAQs
It teaches that even a small, correctly performed ancestral offering—made with the proper hand-tīrtha and sincere care—becomes “akṣayya,” yielding enduring merit and satisfaction to the Pitṛs.
By emphasizing careful, reverent action done for sacred duty, it supports bhakti as disciplined devotion—where intention and correctness in dharmic worship (including honoring ancestors) becomes a form of service aligned with divine order.
Kalpa (ritual procedure) is highlighted: the use of the Pitṛ-tīrtha of the hand, the prescribed substance (barley), and the exact measure (a fistful) for piṇḍa-dāna.