Shloka 89

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

Devanagari script

फल्गुतीर्थे नरः स्नात्वा तर्पणं श्राद्धमाचरेत् । सपिंडकं स्वसूत्रोक्तं नमेदथ पितामहम् ॥ ८९ ॥

Transliteration

phalgutīrthe naraḥ snātvā tarpaṇaṃ śrāddhamācaret | sapiṃḍakaṃ svasūtroktaṃ namedatha pitāmaham || 89 ||

Translation

Après s’être baigné à Phalgu-tīrtha, l’homme doit offrir le tarpaṇa (libation d’eau) et accomplir les rites de śrāddha ; puis, selon ce qu’enseigne son propre Gṛhya-sūtra, il doit accomplir le sapiṇḍīkaraṇa et ensuite se prosterner devant les ancêtres.

Word by Word

• फल्गुतीर्थे: at Phalgu-tirtha
• फल्गुतीर्थे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल्गु-तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; अधिकरण

• नरः: a man
• नरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्ता

• स्नात्वा: having bathed
• स्नात्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्ना (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), पूर्वकाले (having done earlier)

• तर्पणम्: libation/oblatory offering (tarpana)
• तर्पणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तर्पण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म

• श्राद्धम्: śrāddha rite
• श्राद्धम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म

• आचरेत्: should perform
• आचरेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सपिण्डकम्: with the piṇḍa-offering (sapinda)
• सपिण्डकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स-पिण्डक (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying an implied कर्म such as श्राद्धम्/तर्पणम्)

• स्वसूत्रोक्तम्: as prescribed in one’s own sūtra
• स्वसूत्रोक्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व-सूत्र-उक्त (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle) used adjectivally; ‘as stated in one’s own sūtra’

• नमेत्: should bow
• नमेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नम् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अथ: then
• अथ: Discourse-connector (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle; then/thereafter)

• पितामहम्: the Grandfather (Pitāmaha/Brahmā)
• पितामहम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितामह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म (object of bowing)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in the Uttara-Bhaga tīrtha-māhātmya context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Phalgu Tirtha
• Pitrs (ancestors)

FAQs

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

It teaches that tīrtha-snāna becomes spiritually complete when followed by pitṛ-tarpaṇa and śrāddha—acts that repay one’s debt to the ancestors and sanctify the merit gained at the sacred place.

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

By insisting on faithful, scripture-aligned rites (śrāddha performed with śraddhā), it frames devotion as disciplined reverence—honoring dharma, lineage, and sacred injunctions as part of a devotee’s lived practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is emphasized: the verse directs that sapiṇḍīkaraṇa and related rites be done according to one’s own Gṛhya-sūtra (svasūtroktam), showing the importance of correct ritual codification.