Shloka 99

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

Devanagari script

शिलापर्वतफल्ग्वादिरूपेणाव्यक्तमास्थितः । गदाधरादिरूपेण व्यक्तमादिधरस्तथा ॥ ९९ ॥

Transliteration

śilāparvataphalgvādirūpeṇāvyaktamāsthitaḥ | gadādharādirūpeṇa vyaktamādidharastathā || 99 ||

Translation

ആദിധരൻ ശില, പർവ്വതം, ഫല്ഗു മുതലായ രൂപങ്ങളിൽ അവ്യക്തമായി നിലകൊള്ളുന്നു; ഗദാധരാദി രൂപങ്ങളിൽ അവൻ തന്നെ വ്യക്തമായി വിരാജിക്കുന്നു।

Word by Word

• शिला: stone
• शिला: Prakaraṇa (प्रकरण/प्रकार)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; समासाङ्ग (compound-member)

• पर्वत: mountain
• पर्वत: Prakaraṇa (प्रकरण/प्रकार)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर्वत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासाङ्ग

• फल्गु: Phalgu (name)
• फल्गु: Prakaraṇa (प्रकरण/प्रकार)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल्गु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासाङ्ग (name)

• आदि: and so on
• आदि: Prakaraṇa (प्रकरण/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आदि (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थ/आद्यार्थ = 'etc.' (compound-member)

• रूपेण: by/with (a) form
• रूपेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• अव्यक्तम्: the unmanifest (state/form)
• अव्यक्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव्यक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (object-complement)

• आस्थितः: having assumed / abiding in
• आस्थितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; परस्मैपदी धातु; अर्थः 'स्थित/प्राप्त'

• गदाधरादिरूपेण: by/with the form of Gadādhara and others
• गदाधरादिरूपेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गदाधर-आदि-रूप (प्रातिपदिक; गदाधर + आदि + रूप)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• व्यक्तम्: the manifest (state/form)
• व्यक्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्यक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (object-complement)

• आदिधरः: Ādidhar(a) (the primal supporter)
• आदिधरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदि-धर (प्रातिपदिक; आदि + धर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• तथा: thus / likewise
• तथा: Prakaraṇa (प्रकरण/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb) = 'thus/likewise'

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a Tirtha-Mahatmya/Vishnu-tattva exposition context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Gadadhara
• Adidhara

FAQs

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

It affirms Viṣṇu’s all-pervasiveness: He is present both as the unmanifest ground of the world (seen as inert nature like stones and mountains) and as the manifest Lord worshipped in iconic forms such as Gadādhara.

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

By identifying the same Ādidhara in both nature and the deity-form, the verse supports bhakti that is reverent in pilgrimage and worship while also cultivating constant remembrance—seeing the Lord’s presence everywhere.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It mainly reflects tattva-vicāra (philosophical discernment) rather than a specific Vedāṅga; practically, it guides correct upāsanā by distinguishing avyaktatā (unmanifest presence) from vyaktatā (iconic, worship-worthy manifestation) in Purāṇic theology.