Shloka 47

Devanagari script

गयाशिरसि यः पिंडं येषां नाम्ना तु निर्वपेत् । नरकस्था दिवं यांति स्वर्गस्था मोक्षगामिनः ॥ ४७ ॥

Transliteration

gayāśirasi yaḥ piṃḍaṃ yeṣāṃ nāmnā tu nirvapet | narakasthā divaṃ yāṃti svargasthā mokṣagāminaḥ || 47 ||

Translation

Quiconque offre un piṇḍa à Gayāśiras en prononçant le nom des défunts pour qui l’offrande est faite—ceux qui sont en enfer montent au ciel, et ceux qui sont déjà au ciel s’acheminent vers la délivrance (mokṣa).

Word by Word

• गया-शिरसि: at Gayāśiras (the head/top of Gayā)
• गया-शिरसि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गया-शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: गयायाः शिरः (head/top of Gayā); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• यः: who (he who)
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• पिण्डम्: piṇḍa (funeral offering)
• पिण्डम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• येषाम्: of whom/for whom
• येषाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• नाम्ना: by (their) name
• नाम्ना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; साधन/उपाय (by means of the name)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• निर्वपेत्: should offer/scatter (as offering)
• निर्वपेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: निर्-√वप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• नरक-स्थाः: those situated in hell
• नरक-स्थाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नरक-स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष (locative determinative): नरके स्थाः; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• दिवम्: to heaven
• दिवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिव्/द्यौ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (द्यौः), द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; गत्यर्थे कर्म

• यान्ति: go
• यान्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √या (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन

• स्वर्ग-स्थाः: those situated in heaven
• स्वर्ग-स्थाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वर्ग-स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष: स्वर्गे स्थाः; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• मोक्ष-गामिनः: going to liberation
• मोक्ष-गामिनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मोक्ष-गामिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: मोक्षं गच्छन्ति (toward liberation); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; ‘स्वर्गस्थाः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

Speaker

Narada (teaching within the Gayā-Māhātmya context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Rasa: {"primary_rasa":"adbhuta","secondary_rasa":"bhakti","emotional_journey":"A striking salvific promise: naming the departed while offering piṇḍa at Gayāśiras lifts beings from hell to heaven, and from heaven toward liberation."}

Characters & Entities

• Gaya (Gayāśiras)
• Pinda
• Naraka
• Svarga
• Moksha

FAQs

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

It declares the exceptional tirtha-power of Gayāśiras: a properly named piṇḍa-offering can uplift ancestors from suffering states (naraka) to higher destinies, culminating in mokṣa for those already in svarga.

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

Though framed as a Śrāddha rite, the verse reflects bhakti-informed trust in sacred places and dharmic acts: offering with remembrance (by name) and faith at a Vishnu-associated tirtha is presented as spiritually transformative for one’s lineage.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights ritual procedure (kalpa/śrauta-smārta practice): the importance of sankalpa and naming (nāma-ucchāraṇa) during piṇḍa-dāna at a specific tirtha, indicating correct performance principles rather than grammar or astrology.