Shloka 75

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

Devanagari script

उद्दीच्यां मुंडपृष्टस्य देवर्षिपितृतर्पणम् । मध्ये कनखलं तीर्थं पितॄणां गतिदायकम् ॥ ७५ ॥

Transliteration

uddīcyāṃ muṃḍapṛṣṭasya devarṣipitṛtarpaṇam | madhye kanakhalaṃ tīrthaṃ pitṝṇāṃ gatidāyakam || 75 ||

Translation

ಉತ್ತರದಲ್ಲಿ ಮುಂಡಪೃಷ್ಠವಿದೆ; ಅಲ್ಲಿ ದೇವರು, ಋಷಿ ಮತ್ತು ಪಿತೃಗಳಿಗೆ ತರ್ಪಣ ಮಾಡಲಾಗುತ್ತದೆ. ಮಧ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಕನಖಲ ತೀರ್ಥವಿದ್ದು, ಅದು ಪಿತೃಗಳಿಗೆ ಶುಭಗತಿಯನ್ನು ನೀಡುತ್ತದೆ॥೭೫॥

Word by Word

• उद्दीच्याम्: in Uddīcī (northward place)
• उद्दीच्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उद्दीची (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन

• मुण्डपृष्टस्य: of Muṇḍapṛṣṭa (name of a place/person)
• मुण्डपृष्टस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुण्ड + पृष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (मुण्डस्य पृष्ठम्)

• देवर्षिपितृतर्पणम्: offering of satisfaction (tarpaṇa) to gods, sages, and ancestors
• देवर्षिपितृतर्पणम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + ऋषि + पितृ + तर्पण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व (देवाः ऋषयः पितरः च—तेषां तर्पणम्)

• मध्ये: in the middle
• मध्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी-एकवचन-रूपेण अव्ययवत् (adverbial locative): ‘in the middle’

• कनखलम्: Kanakhala (a sacred place)
• कनखलम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कनखल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तीर्थम्: a sacred ford/pilgrimage spot
• तीर्थम्: Apposition (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पितॄणाम्: of the ancestors
• पितॄणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), बहुवचन

• गतिदायकम्: bestowing (good) passage/destination
• गतिदायकम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गति + दायक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (गतिं ददाति इति)

Speaker

Narada (teaching the Sanatkumara brothers in the Uttara-Bhaga tirtha descriptions)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Rishis
• Pitrs
• Kanakhala
• Mundapristha

FAQs

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

It maps specific tirthas to specific ritual outcomes: Muṇḍapṛṣṭha is praised for deva–ṛṣi–pitṛ tarpaṇa, while Kanakhala is singled out as granting uplifted gati (a favorable posthumous course) to one’s ancestors.

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

Bhakti here is expressed through dharmic service—reverent offerings to devas, sages, and forefathers at holy tirthas—performed with remembrance and faith; such acts are treated as supportive to a devotee’s spiritual life and family-line welfare.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights ritual practice (kalpa-oriented usage): tarpaṇa as a defined rite performed at designated tirthas, indicating the traditional linkage between place (tīrtha), procedure (tarpaṇa), and intended result (pitṛ-gati).