Shloka 20
Nāga–Nāgabhāryā Saṃvāda: Varṇa-Dharma, Gṛhastha-Discipline, and Mokṣa-Self-Inquiry
Mahābhārata 12.347
त्रयो मूर्तिविहीना वै पिण्डमूर्तिधरास्त्विमे । भवन्तु पितरो लोके मया सृष्टा: सनातना:,तीन पितर मूर्तिहीन या अमूर्त होते हैं, जो पिण्डरूप मूर्ति धारण करके प्रकट हुए हैं, लोकमें मेरे द्वारा उत्पन्न किये गये ये सनातन पितर हों
trayo mūrtivihīnā vai piṇḍamūrtidharāstvime | bhavantu pitaro loke mayā sṛṣṭāḥ sanātanāḥ ||
Nārada berkata: “Tiga ini, walaupun pada hakikatnya tanpa jasad, telah menampakkan diri dengan menyandang rupa nyata berupa piṇḍa (persembahan upacara kematian). Biarlah mereka dikenal di dunia sebagai Pitṛ yang kekal—leluhur yang terbit melalui perbuatanku sendiri.”
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse links the invisible ancestral realm to visible ethical practice: though the Pitṛs are formless, they become accessible through dharmic rites such as offering piṇḍa in śrāddha. It underscores continuity of obligation—care for ancestors as part of sustaining cosmic and social order.
Nārada is describing the origin/status of the Pitṛs, stating that three formless beings manifest through the piṇḍa-form and are to be recognized in the world as eternal ancestors created by him.