Shloka 14

The Greatness of Offering Piṇḍas at Viṣṇvādipada (Viṣṇupada) — Gayā Śrāddha Procedure and Fruits

Devanagari script

एवं तृतीयदिवसे समाप्य नियमं सुधीः । नत्वा गदाधरं देवं ब्रह्मचर्यपरो भवेत् ॥ १४ ॥

Transliteration

evaṃ tṛtīyadivase samāpya niyamaṃ sudhīḥ | natvā gadādharaṃ devaṃ brahmacaryaparo bhavet || 14 ||

Translation

Ainsi, le troisième jour, le sage—ayant achevé l’observance prescrite—doit se prosterner devant le Seigneur Gadādhara et, dès lors, demeurer voué au brahmacarya, la chasteté et la maîtrise de soi.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Indeclinable), क्रियाविशेषण (Adverb)

• तृतीय-दिवसे: on the third day
• तृतीय-दिवसे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तृतीय (प्रातिपदिक) + दिवस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (Descriptive): तृतीयः दिवसः; पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• समाप्य: having completed
• समाप्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्-आप् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययीभावरूप कृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive); ‘having completed’

• नियमम्: the observance/vow
• नियमम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नियम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• सुधीः: the wise person
• सुधीः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुधी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• नत्वा: having bowed (to)
• नत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नम् (धातु) + क्त्वा (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive)

• गदा-धरम्: Gadādhara (the mace-bearer)
• गदा-धरम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गदा (प्रातिपदिक) + धर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: गदां धरतीति/गदाधरः; पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• देवम्: the god
• देवम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); गदाधरम् इति समानाधिकरण (appositional)

• ब्रह्मचर्य-परः: devoted to brahmacarya
• ब्रह्मचर्य-परः: Kartṛ-visheshana (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्मचर्य (प्रातिपदिक) + पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: ब्रह्मचर्ये परः (devoted to celibacy); पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• भवेत्: should become
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपद

Speaker

Suta (narrating the Narada Purana discourse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Gadadhara

FAQs

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

It teaches that a vow (niyama) is fulfilled not only by ritual completion but by inner transformation—ending with reverence to Vishnu (Gadādhara) and continuing life with disciplined chastity and self-restraint.

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

Bhakti is shown as concluding the observance with pranama (bowing) to Gadādhara, recognizing Vishnu as the goal of the practice; the devotee’s conduct afterward (brahmacarya) becomes an ongoing expression of devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse reflects Kalpa-style vrata procedure: a time-bound observance (three days), its proper completion (samāpya), and the prescribed concluding act of worship (natvā), emphasizing correct ritual sequencing and disciplined conduct.