Shloka 48

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

Devanagari script

नरकेषु समस्तेषु यमदूतवशं गताः । तेषामुद्धरणार्थाय इमं पिंडं ददाम्यहम् ॥ ४८ ॥

Transliteration

narakeṣu samasteṣu yamadūtavaśaṃ gatāḥ | teṣāmuddharaṇārthāya imaṃ piṃḍaṃ dadāmyaham || 48 ||

Translation

ಎಲ್ಲ ನರಕಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಯಮದೂತರ ವಶಕ್ಕೆ ಒಳಗಾದವರ ಉದ್ಧಾರಾರ್ಥವಾಗಿ ನಾನು ಈ ಪಿಂಡವನ್ನು ಅರ್ಪಿಸುತ್ತೇನೆ।

Word by Word

• नरकेषु: in the hells
• नरकेषु: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नरक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), बहुवचन

• समस्तेषु: in all (of them)
• समस्तेषु: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying नरकेषु)

• यमदूतवशम्: the control/power of Yama’s messengers
• यमदूतवशम्: कर्म (Karma/Object; गताḥ इति)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यमदूत-वश (प्रातिपदिक; यमदूत + वश)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: यमदूतानां वशः)

• गताः: (who have) gone/come under
• गताः: कर्तृ (Karta/Subject; implied ‘they’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गम् (धातु) → गत (कृदन्त/क्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोगे ‘gone/come under’

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• उद्धरणार्थाय: for (their) deliverance
• उद्धरणार्थाय: सम्प्रदान (Sampradāna/Purpose-Dative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उद्धरण-अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक; उद्धरण + अर्थ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (4th/Dative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: उद्धरणस्य अर्थः)

• इमम्: this
• इमम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying पिण्डम्)

• पिण्डम्: rice-ball offering (piṇḍa)
• पिण्डम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• ददामि: I give
• ददामि: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: कर्तृ (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

Speaker

Ritual reciter (the śrāddha performer), as quoted in the Narada Purana’s śrāddha/pretakriyā instruction

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Yama
• Yamadūta

FAQs

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

It frames piṇḍa-dāna as an act of compassion and dharma intended to relieve suffering beings who are said to be under Yamadūtas in naraka, emphasizing the protective power of śrāddha offerings for the departed.

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

While primarily ritual, the intent—seeking “uddharaṇa” (deliverance) for others—aligns with bhakti’s compassionate spirit; in Purāṇic practice, such śrāddha is often performed with remembrance of the Divine and faith in sacred order, turning duty into devotional service.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is foregrounded: the verse functions as a śrāddha-mantra-like declaration of sankalpa (purpose) during piṇḍa offering, specifying the beneficiary and intended result (uddharaṇa).