Shloka 58

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

Devanagari script

साक्षिणः संतु मे देवा ब्रह्मेशानादयस्तथा । मया गयां समासाद्य पितॄणां निष्कृतिः कृता ॥ ५८ ॥

Transliteration

sākṣiṇaḥ saṃtu me devā brahmeśānādayastathā | mayā gayāṃ samāsādya pitṝṇāṃ niṣkṛtiḥ kṛtā || 58 ||

Translation

મારા સાક્ષી દેવગણ રહો—બ્રહ્મા, ઈશાન (શિવ) વગેરે. મેં ગયા ધામે પહોંચી પિતૃઓની નિષ્કૃતિ, એટલે પ્રાયશ્ચિત્ત અને મુક્તિનું કર્મ પૂર્ણ કર્યું છે.

Word by Word

• साक्षिणः: witnesses
• साक्षिणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साक्षिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• सन्तु: let them be
• सन्तु: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: Imperative/आज्ञार्थ (लोट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

• मे: of me / my
• मे: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• देवाः: the gods
• देवाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• ब्रह्म-ईशान-आदयः: Brahmā, Īśāna, and others
• ब्रह्म-ईशान-आदयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् + ईशान + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); ‘आदयः’ = “beginning with” (आदि-प्रयोग)

• तथा: also / likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• मया: by me
• मया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• गयाम्: Gayā (place)
• गयाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• समासाद्य: having reached/approached
• समासाद्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-√सद् (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), having approached

• पितॄणाम्: of the ancestors
• पितॄणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• निष्कृतिः: expiation / redemption
• निष्कृतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निष्कृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• कृता: done / accomplished
• कृता: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; agrees with ‘निष्कृतिः’

Speaker

Narada (in the Uttara-Bhaga tīrtha-māhātmya narration, framed within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Ishana (Shiva)
• Devas
• Gaya
• Pitrs (ancestors)

FAQs

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

It presents Gayā as a decisive tīrtha for pitṛ-related rites: by reaching Gayā and completing the prescribed observances, one attains niṣkṛti—ritual and spiritual redress—aimed at the welfare and release of one’s ancestors.

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

While the verse is framed as a ritual declaration, its bhakti-tone appears in invoking the devas as witnesses and trusting the sacred power of the tīrtha; it reflects devotion expressed through śrāddha-karma performed with faith (śraddhā) and dhārmic intent.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It points to Kalpa (ritual procedure) and Dharmaśāstra-style prayoga: formal witnessing, correct performance of pitṛ-karma/śrāddha at a designated tīrtha (Gayā), and the concept of niṣkṛti (prāyaścitta/expiation) as a ritual-legal completion.