Shloka 27

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

Devanagari script

पिंडपात्रे तिलान्दत्वा पूरयित्वा शुभोदकैः । मंत्रेणानेन पिंडांस्तान्प्रदक्षिणकरं यथा ॥ २७ ॥

Transliteration

piṃḍapātre tilāndatvā pūrayitvā śubhodakaiḥ | maṃtreṇānena piṃḍāṃstānpradakṣiṇakaraṃ yathā || 27 ||

Translation

Après avoir déposé des graines de sésame dans le récipient des piṇḍas et l’avoir rempli d’une eau de bon augure, qu’avec ce mantra on dispose ces offrandes de piṇḍa selon l’ordre de pradakṣiṇa, en tournant vers la droite, comme il est prescrit.

Word by Word

• पिण्ड-पात्रे: in the piṇḍa-vessel
• पिण्ड-पात्रे: अधिकरण (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड + पात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पिण्डस्य पात्रम्)

• तिलान्: sesame seeds
• तिलान्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), बहुवचन

• दत्वा: having put (given)
• दत्वा: पूर्वकाल (Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive), ‘having given/placed’

• पूरयित्वा: having filled
• पूरयित्वा: पूर्वकाल (Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूरय् (धातु; पूर्-णिच्)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive), causative; ‘having filled’

• शुभ-उदकैः: with auspicious water
• शुभ-उदकैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुभ + उदक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (शुभम् उदकम्)

• मन्त्रेण: with the mantra
• मन्त्रेण: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन

• अनेन: with this
• अनेन: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; विशेषण (मन्त्रेण)

• पिण्डान्: piṇḍas
• पिण्डान्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), बहुवचन

• तान्: those
• तान्: कर्मविशेषण (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), बहुवचन; विशेषण (पिण्डान्)

• प्रदक्षिण-करम्: clockwise (in a rightward manner)
• प्रदक्षिण-करम्: कर्मविशेषण (Resultative qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रदक्षिण + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (प्रदक्षिणं करोति इति) = ‘making (them) go clockwise’; विशेषण (कर्म-भाव)

• यथा: as, in the proper way
• यथा: क्रियाविशेषण (Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Adverb)

Speaker

Suta

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It emphasizes the sanctity and correctness of pitṛ-kārya: using tila (purifying, pitṛ-priya) and śubhodaka (consecrated water) while placing piṇḍas in a pradakṣiṇa (auspicious rightward) order to ensure the rite becomes spiritually effective.

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

Though primarily ritual-focused, it reflects bhakti through reverent, rule-aligned service to dharma—honoring ancestors with mantra and auspicious actions, offered with sincerity as part of a Vishnu-aligned righteous life.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is highlighted: correct materials (tila, udaka) and correct directional/sequence discipline (pradakṣiṇa order) in performing śrāddha-related acts.