Shloka 8

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

Devanagari script

रामतीर्थे पिंडदस्तु विष्णुलोके महीयते । रामराम महाबाहो देवानामभयंकर ॥ ८ ॥

Transliteration

rāmatīrthe piṃḍadastu viṣṇuloke mahīyate | rāmarāma mahābāho devānāmabhayaṃkara || 8 ||

Translation

രാമതീർത്ഥത്തിൽ പിണ്ഡദാനം ചെയ്യുന്നവൻ വിഷ്ണുലോകത്തിൽ മഹിമപ്പെടുന്നു. ഹേ രാമ രാമ, മഹാബാഹോ! ദേവന്മാർക്ക് അഭയം നല്കുന്നവനേ.

Word by Word

• रामतीर्थे: at Rama’s sacred ford
• रामतीर्थे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम-तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (रामस्य तीर्थम्)

• पिण्डदः: the giver of funeral offering (piṇḍa)
• पिण्डदः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्डद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थक

• विष्णुलोके: in Vishnu’s world
• विष्णुलोके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु-लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (विष्णोः लोकः)

• महीयते: is honored/glorified
• महीयते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मह् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; कर्मणि/आत्मनेपदी प्रयोगः—‘is honored’

• राम: O Rama
• राम: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, संबोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन

• राम: O Rama (again)
• राम: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, संबोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन (पुनरुक्ति)

• महाबाहो: O mighty-armed one
• महाबाहो: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाबाहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, संबोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन; समासः बहुव्रीहिः (महान्तौ बाहू यस्य)

• देवानाम्: of the gods
• देवानाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• अभयंकर: O giver of fearlessness
• अभयंकर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभय-कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, संबोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी/उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (अभयं करोति इति)

Speaker

Narada (in dialogue context with the Sanatkumara tradition; Uttara-Bhaga tirtha narration)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Rama
• Rama-tirtha
• Devas

FAQs

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

It declares the phala (result) of performing piṇḍa-dāna at Rāma-tīrtha: the performer gains honor in Viṣṇu’s realm, linking Pitṛ-kṛtya (ancestral duty) with Viṣṇu-loka attainment.

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

By praising Rāma as the divine protector and connecting sacred rite (piṇḍa offering) at His tīrtha to Viṣṇu-loka, it frames ritual action as an expression of Viṣṇu/Rāma-bhakti with salvific fruit.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It points to kalpa-based śrāddha practice—piṇḍa-dāna at a designated tīrtha—emphasizing correct ritual performance (karma-kāṇḍa procedure) for specific spiritual merit.