Vamana Purana — Glory of Prithudaka Tirtha, Shloka 9

The Glory of Prithudaka Tirtha and the Akshaya Tithi at Kurukshetra

Devanagari script

प्रादात् तिलमधून्मिश्रं हविष्यान्नं कुरुष्वथ ततः प्रीतास्तु पितरस्तां प्राहुस्तनयां निजाम

Transliteration

prādāt tilamadhūnmiśraṃ haviṣyānnaṃ kuruṣvatha tataḥ prītāstu pitarastāṃ prāhustanayāṃ nijāma

Translation

彼は胡麻と蜂蜜を混ぜたハヴィシュヤ（haviṣya）の食を供えた。すると満足した祖霊（ピトリ）たちは、彼女を彼自身の娘であると宣言した。

Word by Word

• prādāt: gave
• prādāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dā दा (धातु)
• Form: लुङ् (Aorist), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; ‘he gave’

• tila-madhūn-miśram: mixed with sesame and honey
• tila-madhūn-miśram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tila (प्रातिपदिक) + madhu (प्रातिपदिक) + miśra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; accusative singular; ‘mixed with sesame and honey’ (उपपद/तत्पुरुषभाव)

• haviṣya-annam: haviṣya-food (ritual offering food)
• haviṣya-annam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: haviṣya (प्रातिपदिक) + anna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; accusative singular; तत्पुरुष ‘haviṣya’ + ‘anna’

• kuruṣu: among the Kurus / in Kurukṣetra region
• kuruṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kuru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन; locative plural

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha/Avyaya (सम्बन्ध/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; conjunction/adverb ‘then/and now’

• tataḥ: thereupon
• tataḥ: Sambandha/Avyaya (सम्बन्ध/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय; tad-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; ablatival adverb ‘thereupon/from that’

• prītāḥ: pleased
• prītāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prīta (कृदन्त; √prī प्रीञ् (धातु))
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; agrees with pitaras

• tu: indeed
• tu: Sambandha/Avyaya (सम्बन्ध/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात; contrast/emphasis ‘but/indeed’

• pitaraḥ: the ancestors
• pitaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; nominative plural

• tām: her
• tām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; accusative singular

• prāhuḥ: called / said
• prāhuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ah अह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; ‘they said/called’

• tanayām: daughter
• tanayām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tanayā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; accusative singular; predicate accusative with prāhuḥ

• nijām: their own
• nijām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; accusative singular; agrees with tanayām

Speakers

• Narratorial layer not explicit in the given excerpt (often Pulastya → Nārada in Vāmana Purāṇa); here: narrator describing Pitṛs’ response

Key Themes

• Pitṛ-tarpaṇa/Śrāddha ethos
• Ritual efficacy
• Lineage legitimation

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

{ "primaryRasa": "shanta", "secondaryRasa": "adbhuta", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse underscores that proper ritual offerings—especially those associated with the Pitṛs (sesame and honey with pure haviṣya)—are not merely formalities: they establish harmony between generations and confer legitimacy and blessing upon family life and progeny.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

Primarily Vamśānucarita (dynastic/lineage narrative): the Pitṛs’ sanction functions as a genealogical authorization that enables the subsequent account of Himavat’s family and descendants.

What is the symbolic significance?

Sesame is a classic Pitṛ-associated substance (linked with ancestral satisfaction), and honey signifies sweetness/auspiciousness; together they symbolize the ‘sweetening’ and stabilization of lineage through dharmic rites.