Shloka 36

Vānaprastha-dharma and Tapas: Śiva–Umā Saṃvāda

Forest-Stage Discipline and Austerity

Devanagari script

त्रयाणामपि पिण्डानां श्रुत्वा भगवतो गतिम्‌

Transliteration

trayāṇām api piṇḍānāṃ śrutvā bhagavato gatim | śrāddhasya rahasyaṃ jñātaṃ; devadūta! tvayā yat śrāddhavidher nirṇayaḥ pṛṣṭaḥ, tadanusāreṇa trayāṇām api piṇḍānāṃ gatiḥ kathyate | sāvadhānaḥ śṛṇu me ||

Translation

ಭಗವಾನ್ ವಿಷ್ಣುವಿನಿಂದ ಮೂರು ಪಿಂಡಗಳ ಗತಿಯನ್ನು ಕೇಳಿ ಅವನು ಶ್ರಾದ್ಧದ ರಹಸ್ಯವನ್ನು ಅರಿತುಕೊಂಡನು. ಓ ದೇವದೂತನೇ! ನೀನು ಶ್ರಾದ್ಧವಿಧಿಯ ನಿರ್ಣಯವನ್ನು ಕೇಳಿರುವುದರಿಂದ, ಅದರಂತೆ ಈಗ ಮೂರು ಪಿಂಡಗಳ ಗತಿಯನ್ನು ಹೇಳಲಾಗುತ್ತದೆ. ಎಚ್ಚರದಿಂದ ನನ್ನ ಮಾತನ್ನು ಕೇಳು.

Word by Word

• त्रयाणाम्: of three
• त्रयाणाम्: Sambandha
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• अपि: also/even
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• पिण्डानाम्: of the rice-balls (piṇḍas)
• पिण्डानाम्: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral here)

• भगवतः: of the Blessed Lord
• भगवतः: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• गतिम्: course/destination
• गतिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

देवदूत उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Devadūta (divine messenger)
• Bhagavān Viṣṇu
• Piṇḍa (śrāddha offering)
• Śrāddha (ancestral rite)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Śrāddha is presented not as a mere formality but as a dharmic act whose offerings (piṇḍas) have specific intended results; therefore one should learn the rite’s rationale and perform it with attention and correct procedure.

What is happening in the narrative?

A divine messenger asks for a definitive ruling on the śrāddha method. The speaker responds that, since the outcomes of the three piṇḍa-offerings have been heard from Viṣṇu and the rite’s inner meaning grasped, the distinct ‘gati’ (result/destination) of each piṇḍa will now be explained, urging careful listening.