Shloka 5

Description of the Rules for Charitable Gifts and Related Rites

Gaṅgā-māhātmya

Devanagari script

यावंतश्च तिला मर्त्यार्गृहीताः पितृकर्मणि । तावद्वर्षसहस्राणि पितरः स्वर्गवासिनः ॥ ५ ॥

Transliteration

yāvaṃtaśca tilā martyārgṛhītāḥ pitṛkarmaṇi | tāvadvarṣasahasrāṇi pitaraḥ svargavāsinaḥ || 5 ||

Translation

祖霊供養の儀礼において人々が取る胡麻（ティラ）の数だけ、天に住まうピトリはその数の千年、天界にとどまる。

Word by Word

• यावन्तः: as many as
• यावन्तः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यावत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; परिमाणवाचक (correlative) — 'as many as' (qualifying तिलाः)

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय (conjunction)

• तिलाः: sesame seeds
• तिलाः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• मर्त्यैः: by mortals
• मर्त्यैः: करण/कर्ता (Agent/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मर्त्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• गृहीताः: taken
• गृहीताः: कर्मणि-भाव (Passive predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; (तिलाः) 'taken/used'

• पितृकर्मणि: in the ancestral rite
• पितृकर्मणि: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Context)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ-कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी): 'पितॄणां कर्म' = rite for ancestors

• तावत्: so many
• तावत्: सम्बन्ध (Correlative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तावत् (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय, परिमाणवाचक (correlative adverb) — 'so many/for that much'

• वर्षसहस्राणि: thousands of years
• वर्षसहस्राणि: कालाधिकरण (Time extent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ष-सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी/कर्मधारय-भाव): 'वर्षाणां सहस्राणि' = thousands of years

• पितरः: the ancestors
• पितरः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• स्वर्गवासिनः: dwelling in heaven
• स्वर्गवासिनः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वर्ग-वासिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास: 'स्वर्गे वसन्ति' = dwelling in heaven; विशेषण (qualifying पितरः)

Speaker

Narada (instructional narration within a Tirtha-Mahatmya/ritual-phala context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Pitaraḥ (Pitṛs)
• Svarga

FAQs

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

It links a tangible ritual act—using sesame in pitṛ-karmas—to a measurable spiritual result: the Pitṛs gain prolonged heavenly residence proportional to the offering.

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

While primarily a karma-kāṇḍa teaching, it supports bhakti indirectly by emphasizing gratitude and sacred duty toward one’s lineage—acts often performed with devotion to Dharma and faith in the unseen order upheld by the Devas.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights ritual procedure (kalpa/śrauta-smārta practice) within pitṛ-karma—specifically the prescribed use of tila in śrāddha/tarpaṇa and the doctrine of phala (result) tied to correct performance.