Shloka 31

Tīrtha-yātrā-varṇana

Description of Pilgrimage to the Sacred Fords

Devanagari script

पिशाचत्वं गता देवि ये नराः पापकर्मिणः । तेषां पिंडप्रदानेन देहस्योद्धरणं स्मृतम् ॥ ३१ ॥

Transliteration

piśācatvaṃ gatā devi ye narāḥ pāpakarmiṇaḥ | teṣāṃ piṃḍapradānena dehasyoddharaṇaṃ smṛtam || 31 ||

Translation

ഹേ ദേവി, പാപകർമ്മങ്ങളാൽ പിശാചത്വത്തിലേക്ക് പതിച്ച മനുഷ്യർക്കു പിണ്ഡദാനം ചെയ്താൽ ദേഹോദ്ധാരവും സദ്ഗതിയും ലഭിക്കും എന്നു സ്മൃതിയിൽ ഉപദേശിക്കുന്നു।

Word by Word

• पिशाचत्वम्: state of being a piśāca (ghoulhood)
• पिशाचत्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिशाचत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/कर्म (2nd case), एकवचन; abstract noun (-त्व)

• गताः: having gone / having become
• गताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु) + गत (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle, क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन; predicative with implied 'अस्मि/सन्ति'

• देवि: O goddess
• देवि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, संबोधन (8th case), एकवचन

• ये: who
• ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन; relative pronoun

• नराः: men
• नराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन

• पापकर्मिणः: sinful-doers
• पापकर्मिणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाप + कर्मिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (पापं कर्म यस्य/यः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन; adjective qualifying नराः

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th case, genitive), बहुवचन

• पिण्ड-प्रदानेन: by the offering of piṇḍa (funeral rice-ball)
• पिण्ड-प्रदानेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड + प्रदान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (पिण्डस्य प्रदानम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case, instrumental), एकवचन

• देहस्य: of the body
• देहस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case, genitive), एकवचन

• उद्धरणम्: uplift/rescue
• उद्धरणम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उद्-√हृ (धातु) + उद्धरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; action noun

• स्मृतम्: is declared/remembered (as)
• स्मृतम्: Pradhana-kriya (प्रधानक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्मृ (धातु) + स्मृत (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle, क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; impersonal passive sense 'is said/remembered'

Speaker

Narada (addressing Devi)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Devi
• Pisacha

FAQs

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

It states that piṇḍadāna (a core śrāddha act) has the power to uplift beings who have fallen into a disturbed, piśāca-like condition due to pāpa, emphasizing ritual compassion and ancestral duty (pitṛ-dharma).

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

While primarily a dharma-ritual verse, it supports bhakti indirectly by teaching seva and responsibility toward beings in suffering; performing prescribed rites with श्रद्धा (faith) aligns the devotee with divine order and mercy.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights Kalpa (ritual procedure) through the specific act of piṇḍa-pradāna within śrāddha/pitṛ-kārya, indicating that correct performance of rites is considered an effective remedial dharmic practice.