Shloka 98

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

Devanagari script

अव्यक्तरूपौ यो देवो मुंडपृष्ठाद्रि रूपतः । फल्गुतीर्थादिरूपेण नमस्यति गदाधरम् ॥ ९८ ॥

Transliteration

avyaktarūpau yo devo muṃḍapṛṣṭhādri rūpataḥ | phalgutīrthādirūpeṇa namasyati gadādharam || 98 ||

Translation

अव्यक्तस्वरूपो यो देवो मुण्डपृष्ठाद्रिरूपतः फल्गुतीर्थादिरूपेण च दृश्यते, तत्र गदाधरं विष्णुं नमस्यति॥

Word by Word

अव्यक्तरूपौhaving an unmanifest form (twofold)

यःwho

देवःthe god

मुंडपृष्ठाद्रिMuṇḍapṛṣṭhādri (a mountain)

रूपतःin the form of / as

फल्गुतीर्थादिरूपेणby/with the form of Phalgu-tīrtha and others

नमस्यतिworships / bows to

गदाधरम्Gadādhara (Vishnu, bearer of the mace)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

Vishnu (Gadadhara)

Muṇḍapṛṣṭhādri

Phalgu Tirtha

FAQs

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

It teaches that the unmanifest Lord (Viṣṇu) becomes accessible through sacred geography—mountains and tīrthas—so pilgrimage and reverent salutation become direct worship of Gadādhara.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as namaskāra and tīrtha-sevā: recognizing the same Viṣṇu in multiple manifestations (adri, tīrtha) and offering humble worship to Gadādhara.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Primarily Kalpa (ritual practice) is implied—tīrtha-yātrā, respectful salutations, and prescribed modes of worship at holy sites—rather than technical disciplines like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa.