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Shloka 37

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

मातामहस्तत्पिता च प्रमातामहकादयः । तेषां पिंडोमया दत्तो ह्यक्षय्यमुपतिष्ठताम् ॥ ३७ ॥

mātāmahastatpitā ca pramātāmahakādayaḥ | teṣāṃ piṃḍomayā datto hyakṣayyamupatiṣṭhatām || 37 ||

ನನ್ನ ಮಾತಾಮಹ, ಅವರ ತಂದೆ ಹಾಗೂ ಪ್ರಮಾತಾಮಹಾದಿಗಳು—ಅವರ ಎಲ್ಲರಿಗೂ ನಾನು ನೀಡಿದ ಈ ಪಿಂಡದಾನ ಅಕ್ಷಯವಾಗಿ ಸದಾ ಸ್ಥಿರವಾಗಿರಲಿ।

मातामहःmaternal grandfather
मातामहः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootमाता + मह (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘mother’s father’
तत्that (his)
तत्:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘that’ (पिता इति विशेषण)
पिताfather
पिता:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootपितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन
and
:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय
प्रमातामहकादयःpramātāmahakas and others
प्रमातामहकादयः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootप्रमातामहक + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘pramātāmahaka and others’; ‘आदि’ अन्तेन समाहार/समूहबोध
तेषाम्of them
तेषाम्:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘of them’
पिण्डःthe piṇḍa offering
पिण्डः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootपिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन
मयाby me
मया:
Karaṇa (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootअस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formउत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; ‘by me’
दत्तःgiven
दत्तः:
Kriyā (क्रिया/विधेय)
TypeAdjective
Rootदत्त (प्रातिपदिक; √दा ‘to give’ से क्त)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle)
हिindeed
हि:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootहि (अव्यय)
Formनिपात (particle), हेतौ/निश्चयार्थे ‘indeed/for’
अक्षय्यम्imperishable (benefit)
अक्षय्यम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Rootअक्षय्य (प्रातिपदिक; नञ् + क्षय्य)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘imperishable’ (फलम्/स्थितिम् इत्यर्थे)
उपतिष्ठताम्may it attend/be present
उपतिष्ठताम्:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootउप + स्था (धातु)
Formलोट् (imperative), तृतीयपुरुष, बहुवचन, आत्मनेपद; ‘let (it) be present/attend’

Narada (teaching a śrāddha/ancestral rite formula in the Uttara-Bhaga context)

Vrata: none

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

P
Pitrs (ancestors)
M
Mātāmaha (maternal grandfather)

FAQs

It sanctifies piṇḍa-dāna by explicitly dedicating the offering to the maternal ancestral line and praying that its benefit become akṣayya (unfailing), ensuring lasting support to the Pitṛs.

Though primarily ritual, it reflects bhakti through reverent remembrance and selfless offering; the devotee acts as a conduit of dharma, seeking enduring welfare for ancestors rather than personal gain.

Ritual procedure and correct dedication formulae (linked to Kalpa/śrauta–smārta practice) are emphasized—specifically, naming the maternal lineage recipients to ensure the intended śrāddha phala reaches them.