Shloka 55

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

Devanagari script

ये मे कुले लुप्तपिंडाः पुत्रदारविवर्जिताः । क्रियालोपगता ये च जात्यंधाः पंगवश्च ये ॥ ५५ ॥

Transliteration

ye me kule luptapiṃḍāḥ putradāravivarjitāḥ | kriyālopagatā ye ca jātyaṃdhāḥ paṃgavaśca ye || 55 ||

Translation

我が家系において祖霊へのピṇḍa供養が途絶えた者たち——子も妻もなく、儀礼が顧みられず、生まれつき盲目または不具の者たち——もまた、この供養の功徳を受け取りますように。

Word by Word

• ये: who
• ये: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

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

• कुले: in (my) family
• कुले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• लुप्त-पिंडाः: those for whom piṇḍa offerings have lapsed
• लुप्त-पिंडाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लुप्त (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + पिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहि: 'लुप्तः पिण्डः येषाम्' (those whose piṇḍa-offering is missing)

• पुत्र-दार-विवर्जिताः: devoid of sons and wives
• पुत्र-दार-विवर्जिताः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + दार (प्रातिपदिक) + वि-वर्जित (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष/नञ्-अर्थ: 'पुत्रैः दारैः च विवर्जिताः' (deprived of sons and wives)

• क्रिया-लोप-गताः: those whose rites have lapsed
• क्रिया-लोप-गताः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रिया (प्रातिपदिक) + लोप (प्रातिपदिक) + गत (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: 'क्रियायाः लोपः' → 'लोपं गताः' (those whose rites have ceased)

• ये: who
• ये: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• जाति-अन्धाः: blind from birth
• जाति-अन्धाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जाति (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: 'जात्या अन्धाः' (blind from birth)

• पंगवः: lame persons
• पंगवः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पङ्गु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• ये: who
• ये: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a śrāddha/tarpana context; traditional dialogue framework with Sanatkumara lineage is implied in the Purana’s instructional style)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It extends the merit of śrāddha/piṇḍa-dāna to ancestors who might otherwise be excluded—those lacking descendants or whose rites were neglected—affirming compassion and completeness in Pitṛ-duty (pitṛ-dharma).

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

While primarily dharma-centered, it reflects bhakti as reverent service: honoring forebears as part of sacred duty, performed with faith and intent to benefit all members of one’s lineage, not only those properly memorialized.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights kalpa-style ritual application: ensuring śrāddha and piṇḍa-dāna include special cases (rite-lapse, no heirs, disability), emphasizing correct procedural scope and intention in ancestral rites.