Shloka 32

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

Devanagari script

पायसेन गयायां च सक्तुना पिष्टकेन वा । चरुणा तंदुलाद्यैर्वा पिंडदानं विधीयते ॥ ३२ ॥

Transliteration

pāyasena gayāyāṃ ca saktunā piṣṭakena vā | caruṇā taṃdulādyairvā piṃḍadānaṃ vidhīyate || 32 ||

Translation

ଗୟାରେ ପାୟସ ଦ୍ୱାରା, କିମ୍ବା ସକ୍ତୁ ଦ୍ୱାରା, କିମ୍ବା ପିଷ୍ଟକ ଦ୍ୱାରା; ଅଥବା ଚରୁ, କିମ୍ବା ଚାଉଳ ଆଦି ଧାନ୍ୟ ଦ୍ୱାରା ପିଣ୍ଡଦାନ ବିଧିତ।

Word by Word

• पायसेन: with sweet rice (pāyasa)
• पायसेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पायस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (instrumental/करण), एकवचन

• गयायाम्: in Gayā
• गयायाम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• सक्तुना: with parched flour (saktu)
• सक्तुना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सक्तु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (instrumental/करण), एकवचन

• पिष्टकेन: with a cake/ball made of flour (piṣṭaka)
• पिष्टकेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिष्टक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (instrumental/करण), एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/ विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक अव्यय (disjunctive particle: ‘or’)

• चरुणा: with cooked oblation (caru)
• चरुणा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (instrumental/करण), एकवचन

• तण्डुलाद्यैः: with rice and the like
• तण्डुलाद्यैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तण्डुल-आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (instrumental/करण), बहुवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (‘तण्डुलः’ + ‘आदि’ = ‘rice etc.’)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/ विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक अव्यय (or)

• पिण्डदानम्: piṇḍa-offering
• पिण्डदानम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड-दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (nominative/कर्ता-पद), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘पिण्डस्य दानम्’)

• विधीयते: is prescribed / is performed
• विधीयते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-√धा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive: ‘is prescribed/is performed’); उपसर्गः वि-

Speaker

Suta (narrating Narada Purana’s tirtha-mahatmya instructions, traditionally in the Narada–Sanatkumara teaching stream)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Gaya

FAQs

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

It emphasizes Gayā as a foremost tīrtha for ancestral rites, prescribing acceptable sacred food-offerings for piṇḍa-dāna so the śrāddha act is properly completed according to dharma.

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

While primarily ritual, it supports bhakti through seva to pitṛs (ancestors) performed at a holy place; such dhārmic offerings are treated as devotional duty when done with faith and purity.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is central: the verse lists sanctioned substitutes (pāyasa, saktu, piṣṭaka, caru, rice) showing how śrāddha materials are chosen to meet scriptural injunctions.