Shloka 48

The Greatness of Gayā

Gayā-Māhātmya

Devanagari script

पांशुनिर्वपण चक्रे प्रेतानामनुपूर्वशः । तकार वसुदानं च पितॄन्कृत्वा पुरःसरान् ॥ ४८ ॥

Transliteration

pāṃśunirvapaṇa cakre pretānāmanupūrvaśaḥ | takāra vasudānaṃ ca pitṝnkṛtvā puraḥsarān || 48 ||

Translation

पांशुनिर्वपणं चक्रे प्रेतानामनुपूर्वशः। पितॄन् पुरःसरान् कृत्वा वसुदानं चकार सः॥

Word by Word

• पांशुनिर्वपणम्: sprinkling/offering of dust (pāṃśu-offering)
• पांशुनिर्वपणम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पांशु (प्रातिपदिक) + निर्वपण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पांशोः निर्वपणम्)

• चक्रे: did / performed
• चक्रे: क्रिया (action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), आत्मनेपद

• प्रेतानाम्: of the pretas
• प्रेतानाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन (Plural)

• अनुपूर्वशः: in due order / successively
• अनुपूर्वशः: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनुपूर्वशस् (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रमवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of sequence)

• तकार: did / made
• तकार: क्रिया (action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद; रूपम् ‘तकार’ (तं + कार)

• वसुदानम्: gift of wealth
• वसुदानम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसु (प्रातिपदिक) + दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (वसूनां दानम्)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• पितॄन्: the fathers/ancestors
• पितॄन्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• कृत्वा: having made
• कृत्वा: पूर्वकाल (prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive)

• पुरःसरान्: as leaders in front / as foremost
• पुरःसरान्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुरःसर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural); विशेषण (qualifier of पितॄन्)

Speaker

Suta (narrating the account within the Uttara-Bhaga context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta (peace)

Secondary Rasa: karuna (compassion)

Characters & Entities

• Preta
• Pitṛs

FAQs

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

It emphasizes orderly performance (anupūrvaśaḥ) of post-death rites—addressing the preta-stage first and then honoring the pitṛs—so the departed are supported and the ancestral lineage is ritually satisfied.

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

While primarily ritual-focused, it supports bhakti through dharma: respectful service to pitṛs and disciplined observance of prescribed rites are treated as devotional duties that harmonize family, tradition, and sacred order.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is central: the verse points to correct sequencing and prescribed dāna (vasu-dāna) as integral components of śrāddha/preta-vidhi performance.