Shloka 12

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

Devanagari script

ततः काकबलिं कुर्यान्मन्त्रेणानेन संयतः । ऐंद्रवारुणवायव्या याम्या वैनैऋतास्तथा ॥ १२ ॥

Transliteration

tataḥ kākabaliṃ kuryānmantreṇānena saṃyataḥ | aiṃdravāruṇavāyavyā yāmyā vainaiṛtāstathā || 12 ||

Translation

Kemudian, dengan pengendalian diri, persembahkan kāka-bali (sesaji untuk gagak) dengan mantra ini juga—ke arah Indra (timur), Varuṇa (barat), Vāyu (barat laut), Yama (selatan), serta Nirṛti (barat daya).

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रमवाचक (sequencing adverb)

• काक-बलिम्: offering for the crow(s)
• काक-बलिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काक (प्रातिपदिक) + बलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (काकस्य बलिः)

• कुर्यात्: should do/make
• कुर्यात्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• मन्त्रेण: with the mantra
• मन्त्रेण: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

• अनेन: with this
• अनेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

• संयतः: self-controlled (one)
• संयतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + यम् (धातु) ; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण = ‘disciplined/self-restrained’

• ऐन्द्र-वारुण-वायव्याः: pertaining to Indra, Varuṇa, and Vāyu
• ऐन्द्र-वारुण-वायव्याः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऐन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक) + वारुण (प्रातिपदिक) + वायव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (belonging to Indra, Varuṇa, and Vāyu) — दिशाविशेषणरूपेण

• याम्याः: southern / pertaining to Yama
• याम्याः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: याम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन; ‘southern/pertaining to Yama’

• वैनैऋताः: pertaining to Nirṛti (southwest)
• वैनैऋताः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वैनैऋत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन; ‘pertaining to Nirṛti (southwest)’

• तथा: likewise/also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय/तुल्यताबोधक (also/likewise)

Speaker

Narada (teaching ritual procedure in Uttara-Bhaga)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Indra
• Varuna
• Vayu
• Yama
• Nirrti

FAQs

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

It teaches a disciplined, mantra-guided offering (bali) aligned with cosmic order (dik/devatā), indicating that ritual acts become spiritually effective when performed with restraint (saṃyama) and correct directional placement.

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

While primarily ritualistic, it supports bhakti by framing offerings as reverent acts done with mantra and self-control—devotional discipline expressed through correct worship of the divine order governing the directions.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Kalpa (ritual procedure) and a practical application of dik-vinyāsa (directional placement) associated with traditional ritual science; it also implicitly relies on correct mantra usage and ritual timing/placement.