Shloka 40

Tīrtha-vidhi (Procedure for Holy Places) — Prayāgarāja-māhātmya

Devanagari script

श्राद्धं तु तत्र कर्तव्यमर्च्चावाहनवर्जितम् । श्वध्वांक्षगृध्रपापानां नैव दृष्टिहतं च यत् ॥ ४० ॥

Transliteration

śrāddhaṃ tu tatra kartavyamarccāvāhanavarjitam | śvadhvāṃkṣagṛdhrapāpānāṃ naiva dṛṣṭihataṃ ca yat || 40 ||

Translation

しかしその地では、祖霊（Pitṛ）を礼拝と招請（arcā-āvāhana）によって正式に迎え入れることなく、śrāddhaを行うべきである。また、犬・烏・禿鷲、そして邪悪な者どもの視線や介入によって、その儀が損なわれてはならない。

Word by Word

• श्राद्धम्: śrāddha rite
• श्राद्धम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Nom./Acc. 1st/2nd), एकवचनम् (Singular)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अन्वयार्थक-अव्ययम् (but/indeed)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्ययम् (locative adverb: there)

• कर्तव्यम्: should be performed
• कर्तव्यम्: विधेय (Obligation predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृत्प्रत्यय)
• Form: तव्यत्-कृदन्तम् (gerundive/obligative), नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; विधेयभावः (to be done)

• अर्चा: icon/image-worship
• अर्चा: सम्बन्ध (Qualifier in compound)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्चा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः (Feminine), प्रथमा (Nom. 1st), एकवचनम् (Singular)

• आवाहन: invocation (of deity)
• आवाहन: सम्बन्ध (Qualifier in compound)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आ + वह् (धातु) + ल्युट् (कृत्प्रत्यय) → आवाहन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; क्रियानाम (act of invocation)

• वर्जितम्: devoid of/excluding
• वर्जितम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर्ज् (धातु) + क्त (कृत्प्रत्यय) → वर्जित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त-भूतकृदन्त-विशेषणम् (past passive participle used adjectivally), नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; ‘वर्जित’ = excluded/devoid of

• श्व: dog
• श्व: सम्बन्ध (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्वन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः (Masculine), प्रातिपदिक-रूपम् (as compound member)

• ध्वाङ्क्ष: crow
• ध्वाङ्क्ष: सम्बन्ध (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्वाङ्क्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रातिपदिक-रूपम् (as compound member)

• गृध्र: vulture
• गृध्र: सम्बन्ध (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृध्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रातिपदिक-रूपम् (as compound member)

• पापानाम्: of sinners/impure beings
• पापानाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः (Neuter), षष्ठी-विभक्तिः (Genitive/6th), बहुवचनम् (Plural)

• न: not
• न: निषेध (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्ययम् (negation)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: अवधारण (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्ययम् (emphatic/only)

• दृष्टि: sight/look
• दृष्टि: सम्बन्ध (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, प्रातिपदिक-रूपम् (as compound member)

• हतम्: tainted/struck (by)
• हतम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हन् (धातु) + क्त (कृत्प्रत्यय) → हत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त-भूतकृदन्त-विशेषणम्, नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; ‘हत’ = struck/tainted

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययम् (and)

• यत्: which/that
• यत्: सम्बन्ध (Relative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचनम्; सम्बन्धसूचक-सर्वनाम (relative pronoun: which/that)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a tirtha/mahatmya context; traditional dialogue frame with Sanatkumara lineage implied)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that śrāddha succeeds through śraddhā (reverent intent) and ritual purity, and that the offering should be protected from inauspicious disturbance so the Pitṛs receive it without obstruction.

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

By insisting on careful, respectful performance, it frames even Pitṛ-karmas as acts of disciplined reverence—supporting a sattvic life that harmonizes ancestral duty with devotional conduct.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is highlighted: the verse specifies a procedural rule—performing śrāddha without āvāhana/arcana in that context and ensuring the rite is not rendered defective by inauspicious presence.