Varaha Purana 14.36: Adhyaya 14, Shloka 36

Ritual Procedure for Śrāddha: Sequence, Eligibility, and Offerings to Ancestors

Devanagari script

दर्भमूले लेपभुजः प्रीणयेल्लेपघर्षणात् । पिण्डे मातामहे तद्वद्गन्धमाल्यादिसंयुतैः ॥ १४.३६ ॥

Recitation with translationVaraha Purana 14.36

Transliteration

darbhamūle lepabhujaḥ prīṇayellepagharṣaṇāt | piṇḍe mātāmahe tadvad gandhamālyādisaṃyutaiḥ || 14.36 ||

Translation

दर्भा घास के पास जो लोग लेप खाते हैं, उन्हें खुश करने के लिए लेप को हल्का सा रगड़ना चाहिए। नाना के लिए पिंड देना है, उसमें फूल और इत्र लगा के देना चाहिए।

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Word by Word

• दर्भ-मूले: at the darbha-root
• दर्भ-मूले: अधिकरण (Adhikarana/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दर्भ (प्रातिपदिक) + मूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष): दर्भस्य मूलम् → दर्भमूलम्; locative: 'at the root of darbha-grass'

• लेप-भुजः: those who partake of the smear/ointment (i.e., recipients)
• लेप-भुजः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लेप (प्रातिपदिक) + भुज्/भुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास: लेपं भुञ्जते/भुज्यन्ते ये (here as a nominal group)

• प्रीणयेत्: should please
• प्रीणयेत्: क्रिया (Kriya/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रीण् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; causative sense not intended; 'should please/satisfy'

• लेप-घर्षणात्: by rubbing with the smear
• लेप-घर्षणात्: करण (Karana/Instrumental-causal source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लेप (प्रातिपदिक) + घर्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास: लेपस्य घर्षणम्; ablative: 'by/from rubbing with ointment'

• पिण्डे: in/at the piṇḍa (funeral offering)
• पिण्डे: अधिकरण (Adhikarana/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; locative

• मातामहे: for the maternal grandfather
• मातामहे: सम्प्रदान/अधिकरण (Sampradana/Recipient or Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातामह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; locative: 'for/at the maternal grandfather' (context: offering addressed to him)

• तद्वत्: likewise
• तद्वत्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद्वत् (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक-निबद्ध)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमानार्थक-क्रियाविशेषण: 'in the same manner'

• गन्ध-माल्य-आदि-संयुतैः: with (things) accompanied by perfumes, garlands, etc.
• गन्ध-माल्य-आदि-संयुतैः: करण (Karana/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + माल्य (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + सं-युक्त (कृदन्त, √युज्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; समास: गन्धमाल्यादिभिः संयुतैः (instrumental plural)

Speaker

Varāha

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Vaishnavism
• Dharma-shastra Traditions
• Ritual Studies

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It reflects a Purāṇic codification of śrāddha-related practices, preserving ritual vocabulary (darbha, piṇḍa, gandha, mālya) and indicating how sensory offerings (paste, fragrance, garlands) were integrated into ancestral rites in classical Sanskrit traditions.

Which geographic location is identified?

No specific place-name is mentioned in this verse fragment; it focuses on ritual procedure rather than sacred geography.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

To perform ancestral offerings with careful attentiveness and completeness—providing proper accompaniments (fragrance, garlands, etc.)—as a disciplined cultural practice of remembrance and responsibility toward forebears.