Shloka 3

The Greatness of Offering Piṇḍas at Viṣṇvādipada (Viṣṇupada) — Gayā Śrāddha Procedure and Fruits

Devanagari script

श्राद्धाय पिंडदानाय तर्पणायार्थसिद्धये । तत्कूपयूपयोर्मध्ये कुर्वंस्तारयते पितॄन् ॥ ३ ॥

Transliteration

śrāddhāya piṃḍadānāya tarpaṇāyārthasiddhaye | tatkūpayūpayormadhye kurvaṃstārayate pitṝn || 3 ||

Translation

श्राद्धार्थं पिण्डदानार्थं तर्पणार्थं च सिद्धये । तस्मिन्कूपयूपयोर्मध्ये यः करोति स पितॄन् तारयति ॥

Word by Word

• श्राद्धाय: for śrāddha (rite)
• श्राद्धाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; प्रयोजन/सम्प्रदानार्थे (for the purpose of)

• पिण्ड-दानाय: for offering rice-balls
• पिण्ड-दानाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक) + दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पिण्डस्य दानम्)

• तर्पणाय: for libation/satiation offering
• तर्पणाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तर्पण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थे

• अर्थ-सिद्धये: for the accomplishment of the intended purpose
• अर्थ-सिद्धये: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + सिद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (अर्थस्य सिद्धिः)

• तत्-कूप-यूपयोः: of that well and sacrificial post
• तत्-कूप-यूपयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + कूप (प्रातिपदिक) + यूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), द्विवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (कूपश्च यूपश्च) तत्-सम्बन्धः

• मध्ये: in the middle
• मध्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण (location)

• कुर्वन्: doing/performing
• कुर्वन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ/Present active participle), प्रथमा एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; कर्तरि

• तारयते: saves/causes to be delivered
• तारयते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तॄ (धातु) [तारयति-प्रयोगः, णिच् causative]
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative: causes to cross/save)

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

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Pitrs

FAQs

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

It teaches that properly performed ancestral rites (śrāddha, piṇḍa-dāna, tarpaṇa) at a specifically sanctified tirtha-location are believed to directly aid and uplift one’s pitṛs, ensuring the rite’s intended fruit (arthasiddhi).

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

While primarily ritual-focused, it supports bhakti through reverent duty (dharma) toward one’s lineage and sacred places; honoring pitṛs in a consecrated tirtha context is treated as a devotional act that aligns the practitioner with sacred order.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Kalpa (ritual procedure) by specifying the rite-types (śrāddha, piṇḍa-dāna, tarpaṇa) and the importance of precise ritual location (between a kūpa and yūpa) for obtaining the promised result.