Shloka 15

Pūjādi-kathana — Gaṅgā Vratas, Tenfold Worship, Stotra, and Mokṣa on the Riverbank

Devanagari script

पलाशपत्रे भुञ्जानः शिवं स्मृत्वा जितेंद्रियः । धर्मराजस्य देव्याश्च पृथक्पिंडं प्रकल्पयेत् ॥ १५ ॥

Transliteration

palāśapatre bhuñjānaḥ śivaṃ smṛtvā jiteṃdriyaḥ | dharmarājasya devyāśca pṛthakpiṃḍaṃ prakalpayet || 15 ||

Translation

പലാശഇലയിൽ ഭക്ഷണം കഴിക്കുമ്പോൾ, ഇന്ദ്രിയസംയമനത്തോടെ ശിവനെ സ്മരിച്ച്, ധർമ്മരാജൻ (യമൻ)ക്കും ദേവിക്കും വേർതിരിച്ച് പിണ്ഡനിവേദ്യം ഒരുക്കണം।

Word by Word

• पलाश-पत्रे: on a palāśa leaf
• पलाश-पत्रे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पलाश (प्रातिपदिक) + पत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः): पलाशस्य पत्रम् → पलाशपत्रम्; locative: 'on/in a palāśa-leaf'

• भुञ्जानः: eating
• भुञ्जानः: कर्ता (Kartā/Agent)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ/शानच्), परस्मैपदी; प्रथमा एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग; 'eating/while eating'

• शिवम्: Śiva
• शिवम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• स्मृत्वा: having remembered
• स्मृत्वा: क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa/Adverbial to main action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; 'having remembered'

• जित-इन्द्रियः: one who has conquered the senses
• जित-इन्द्रियः: कर्ता (Kartā/Agent)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √जि धातु) + इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास: जितानि इन्द्रियाणि यस्य सः; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; qualifies the doer

• धर्म-राजस्य: of Dharmarāja (Yama)
• धर्म-राजस्य: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (कर्मधारय/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष-भाव): धर्मराजः (Yama)

• देव्याः: of the देवी (goddess)
• देव्याः: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• पृथक्: separately
• पृथक्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पृथक् (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb): 'separately'

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

• प्रकल्पयेत्: should prepare/arrange
• प्रकल्पयेत्: क्रिया (Kriyā/Finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-कल्प् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative/विधिलिङ्), परस्मैपदी; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person/प्रथमपुरुष), एकवचन

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a Dharma/Tirtha-ritual context, traditionally transmitted to sages such as Sanatkumara and others)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Dharmaraja (Yama)
• Devi (Goddess)

FAQs

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

It links inner discipline (jitendriya—sense-control) with outer ritual purity: remembering Śiva while eating and offering separate piṇḍas acknowledges cosmic order (Dharma-rāja/Yama) and divine grace (Devī) in rites connected with dharma and post-death welfare.

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

Bhakti appears here as smaraṇa (remembrance): even during an ordinary act like eating, the devotee keeps the mind on Śiva, turning routine conduct into worship and aligning ritual acts with heartfelt recollection.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Kalpa (ritual procedure) and Smṛti-style injunctions: the use of palāśa leaves (ritual hygiene/auspiciousness) and the rule to prepare distinct piṇḍas for specific deities, emphasizing correct sequencing and differentiation in offerings.