Shloka 18
The Procedure for Offering Piṇḍa (Funerary Rice-balls) — Gayā-māhātmya
मदीयाः पितरो ये च कुले जाताः सनाभयः । तेषां पिंडप्रदानार्थमागतोऽस्मि गयामिमाम् ॥ १८ ॥
madīyāḥ pitaro ye ca kule jātāḥ sanābhayaḥ | teṣāṃ piṃḍapradānārthamāgato'smi gayāmimām || 18 ||
माझ्या कुळात जन्मलेले माझे पितर आणि त्याच वंशपरंपरेतील सगोत्र बंधू—त्यांना पिंडदान करण्यासाठी मी या पुण्य गयेस आलो आहे।
Narrator within the Gayā-māhātmya dialogue (a pilgrim/devotee expressing intent for Śrāddha); framed in the broader Narada Purana discourse
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
The verse states the pilgrim’s sankalpa: coming to Gayā specifically to perform piṇḍadāna for one’s Pitṛs, highlighting Gayā as a foremost tīrtha for ancestral rites and pitṛ-śānti (appeasement and upliftment of ancestors).
Here bhakti is expressed as reverent service to dharma through Pitṛ-kārya—honoring one’s ancestors with faith at a sacred tīrtha. In Purāṇic teaching, such sincere ritual action, done with devotion and right intent, becomes a form of devotional duty aligned with cosmic order.
It points to Kalpa (ritual procedure) in practice—specifically śrāddha/ piṇḍadāna performed at a tīrtha. The verse also implies the importance of correct sankalpa (ritual intention) and lineage specification, which are standard components of śrauta/smārta rite-structure.