Shloka 47

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

Devanagari script

दुर्गतिं समनुप्राप्य अभिशापादिना हताः । तेषामुद्धरणार्थाय इमं पिंडं ददाम्यहम् ॥ ४७ ॥

Transliteration

durgatiṃ samanuprāpya abhiśāpādinā hatāḥ | teṣāmuddharaṇārthāya imaṃ piṃḍaṃ dadāmyaham || 47 ||

Translation

Étant tombés dans une condition funeste, frappés par des malédictions et autres causes semblables, afin de les délivrer j’offre ce piṇḍa (oblations funéraires).

Word by Word

• दुर्गतिम्: a bad state/misfortune
• दुर्गतिम्: कर्म (Object of absolutive phrase)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• समनु-प्राप्य: having reached
• समनु-प्राप्य: पूर्वकाल (Prior action; adverbial to main predication)
• Type: Verb
• Root: समनु-√प्राप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव (absolutive/gerund); ‘having fully attained/reached’

• अभिशाप-आदिना: by a curse and the like
• अभिशाप-आदिना: करण (Cause/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभिशाप + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; ‘अभिशापादि’ = curse and the like (ādi = etc.)

• हताः: struck down/afflicted
• हताः: विशेषण (Predicate adjective of implied 'ये')
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हत (प्रातिपदिक; √हन् (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• उद्धरण-अर्थाय: for deliverance
• उद्धरण-अर्थाय: प्रयोजन (Purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उद्धरण + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; प्रयोजनवाचक-दत्तिव

• इमम्: this
• इमम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of पिण्डम्)

• पिण्डम्: piṇḍa offering
• पिण्डम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ददामि: I give
• ददामि: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दा (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, उत्तम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उत्तम-पुरुष-सर्वनाम

Speaker

Narada (ritual formula spoken by the performer as taught in the dialogue)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

FAQs

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

It frames piṇḍa-dāna as an act of compassion and dharma intended to uplift departed beings who have fallen into an unfortunate post-mortem condition, even due to adverse causes like curses.

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

While primarily ritual, it expresses bhakti as service and responsibility—offering with a sincere intent to relieve suffering and support the departed, aligning one’s actions with sacred duty.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Kalpa (ritual procedure) through the śrāddha/piṇḍa formula—how intention (uddharaṇārtha) and the specific offering (piṇḍa) are verbally consecrated during ancestral rites.