Shloka 30

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

Devanagari script

अधिमासे जनिदिने ह्यस्ते च गुरुशुक्रयोः । न त्यजेत्तु गयाश्राद्धं सिंहस्थे च बृहस्पतौ ॥ ३० ॥

Transliteration

adhimāse janidine hyaste ca guruśukrayoḥ | na tyajettu gayāśrāddhaṃ siṃhasthe ca bṛhaspatau || 30 ||

Translation

അധിമാസത്തിലും, ജന്മദിനത്തിലും, ഗുരു-ശുക്രൻ അസ്തമായിരിക്കുമ്പോഴും—ബൃഹസ്പതി സിംഹരാശിയിൽ ഇരിക്കുമ്പോഴും—ഗയാശ്രാദ്ധം ഉപേക്ഷിക്കരുത്.

Word by Word

• अधिमासे: in the intercalary month
• अधिमासे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधि-मास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (उपपद/उपसर्गपूर्वक: ‘अधि’ + ‘मास’)

• जनिदिने: on the birth-day
• जनिदिने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनि-दिन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (locative), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘जनेः/जन्मनः दिनम्’ → ‘जनिदिन’)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphatic particle: ‘indeed’)

• अस्ते: at the time of setting (astamaya)
• अस्ते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (locative), एकवचन; ‘अस्त’ = setting (of a planet)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• गुरुशुक्रयोः: of Jupiter and Venus
• गुरुशुक्रयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु + शुक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (genitive/सम्बन्ध), द्विवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (Guru and Śukra)

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negation)

• त्यजेत्: should abandon
• त्यजेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• तु: however/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle: ‘however/indeed’)

• गयाश्राद्धम्: the Gayā-śrāddha (ancestral rite at Gayā)
• गयाश्राद्धम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गया-श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (accusative/कर्म), एकवचन; समासः सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषः (‘गयायां श्राद्धम्’)

• सिंहस्थे: when (he is) in Leo
• सिंहस्थे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सिंह-स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (locative), एकवचन; विशेषणम्; समासः तत्पुरुषः (‘सिंहे स्थितः’ = situated in Leo)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• बृहस्पतौ: when Jupiter (is so)
• बृहस्पतौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बृहस्पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Gayā-śrāddha (tīrtha-śrāddha)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Brihaspati
• Shukra
• Gaya
• Shraddha

FAQs

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

The verse prioritizes Gayā Śrāddha as a highly efficacious tirtha-rite for ancestors, teaching that its merit should not be postponed due to calendar anomalies (Adhika-māsa) or astrological conditions (asta of planets).

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

By insisting on unwavering performance of sacred duties at a revered tirtha, the verse supports bhakti expressed through faithful, dharmic action—honoring pitṛs and sacred places as part of a Vishnu-aligned life of devotion and responsibility.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Jyotiṣa (Vedic astrology) is explicitly invoked: the concepts of planetary setting (asta) for Guru and Śukra, and Jupiter’s transit/placement in Siṃha (Leo), are mentioned while clarifying that these do not prohibit Gayā Śrāddha.