Shloka 27

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

Devanagari script

पिंडपात्रे तिलान्दत्वा पूरयित्वा शुभोदकैः । मंत्रेणानेन पिंडांस्तान्प्रदक्षिणकरं यथा ॥ २७ ॥

Transliteration

piṃḍapātre tilāndatvā pūrayitvā śubhodakaiḥ | maṃtreṇānena piṃḍāṃstānpradakṣiṇakaraṃ yathā || 27 ||

Translation

പിണ്ഡപാത്രത്തിൽ എള്ള് ഇട്ട് ശുഭജലത്തോടെ നിറച്ച്, ഈ മന്ത്രത്തോടെ വിധിപ്രകാരം ആ പിണ്ഡങ്ങളെ പ്രദക്ഷിണ (വലത്തോട്ടുള്ള) ക്രമത്തിൽ ക്രമീകരിക്കണം।

Word by Word

• पिण्ड-पात्रे: in the piṇḍa-vessel
• पिण्ड-पात्रे: अधिकरण (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड + पात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पिण्डस्य पात्रम्)

• तिलान्: sesame seeds
• तिलान्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), बहुवचन

• दत्वा: having put (given)
• दत्वा: पूर्वकाल (Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive), ‘having given/placed’

• पूरयित्वा: having filled
• पूरयित्वा: पूर्वकाल (Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूरय् (धातु; पूर्-णिच्)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive), causative; ‘having filled’

• शुभ-उदकैः: with auspicious water
• शुभ-उदकैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुभ + उदक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (शुभम् उदकम्)

• मन्त्रेण: with the mantra
• मन्त्रेण: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन

• अनेन: with this
• अनेन: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; विशेषण (मन्त्रेण)

• पिण्डान्: piṇḍas
• पिण्डान्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), बहुवचन

• तान्: those
• तान्: कर्मविशेषण (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), बहुवचन; विशेषण (पिण्डान्)

• प्रदक्षिण-करम्: clockwise (in a rightward manner)
• प्रदक्षिण-करम्: कर्मविशेषण (Resultative qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रदक्षिण + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (प्रदक्षिणं करोति इति) = ‘making (them) go clockwise’; विशेषण (कर्म-भाव)

• यथा: as, in the proper way
• यथा: क्रियाविशेषण (Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Adverb)

Speaker

Suta

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It emphasizes the sanctity and correctness of pitṛ-kārya: using tila (purifying, pitṛ-priya) and śubhodaka (consecrated water) while placing piṇḍas in a pradakṣiṇa (auspicious rightward) order to ensure the rite becomes spiritually effective.

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

Though primarily ritual-focused, it reflects bhakti through reverent, rule-aligned service to dharma—honoring ancestors with mantra and auspicious actions, offered with sincerity as part of a Vishnu-aligned righteous life.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is highlighted: correct materials (tila, udaka) and correct directional/sequence discipline (pradakṣiṇa order) in performing śrāddha-related acts.