Shloka 36

The Greatness of Gayā

Gayā-Māhātmya

Devanagari script

पितॄन् पितामहांश्चैव तथैव प्रपितामहान् । प्रीणयामीति यत्तोयं त्वया दत्तमरिंदम ॥ ३६ ॥

Transliteration

pitṝn pitāmahāṃścaiva tathaiva prapitāmahān | prīṇayāmīti yattoyaṃ tvayā dattamariṃdama || 36 ||

Translation

ହେ ଅରିନ୍ଦମ! ‘ମୁଁ ପିତୃମାନଙ୍କୁ—ପିତା, ପିତାମହ ଓ ପ୍ରପିତାମହଙ୍କୁ—ତୃପ୍ତ କରୁଛି’ ବୋଲି କହି ତୁମେ ଯେ ଜଳ ଦେଲ, ସେହିଟା ତାଙ୍କର ତର୍ପଣ ହୁଏ।

Word by Word

• पितॄन्: the fathers/ancestors
• पितॄन्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• पितामहान्: the grandfathers
• पितामहान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितामह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधारणार्थक-निपात (particle of emphasis)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• एव: also/indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधारणार्थक-निपात (emphasis)

• प्रपितामहान्: the great-grandfathers
• प्रपितामहान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रपितामह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• प्रीणयामि: I please/satisfy
• प्रीणयामि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रीण् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद; अर्थः ‘तर्पयामि/सन्तोषयामि’

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, वाक्य-समाप्ति/उद्धरण-चिह्न (quotative particle)

• यत्: which
• यत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (relative pronoun), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; ‘यत्’ = ‘which’ (correlative with तत् implied)

• तोयम्: water
• तोयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तोय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular)

• दत्तम्: given
• दत्तम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘given/offered’ (agreeing with तोयम्)

• अरिंदम: O subduer of enemies
• अरिंदम: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अरिंदम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सम्बोधन-प्रथमा (Vocative), एकवचन; उपाधि (epithet)

Speaker

Narada (instructional narration within Uttara-Bhaga ritual/tirtha context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta (peace)

Secondary Rasa: bhakti (devotion)

Characters & Entities

• Pitṛs (ancestors)

FAQs

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

It teaches that tarpaṇa is not merely pouring water—when offered with the sankalpa “I satisfy the Pitṛs,” the act becomes a conscious dharmic offering that nourishes and honors one’s ancestral line (up to great-grandfathers).

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

While primarily a dharma-rite verse, it aligns with bhakti in emphasizing intention and reverence: an offering becomes spiritually effective when done with heartfelt remembrance and a dedicated resolve, cultivating humility and gratitude.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights ritual procedure (kalpa-style practice): the use of a clear sankalpa/mantric intention during tarpaṇa, specifying the recipients (Pitṛs, pitāmahas, prapitāmahas) to direct the rite correctly.