Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 90
Dharmopadeśa-Śānti: Rules of Impurity, Expiations, and Ancestor Rites
आपो देवगणाः प्रोक्ता आपः पितृगणास्तथा । तस्मादस्य जलं देयं पितॄणां हितमिच्छता ॥ ९० ॥
āpo devagaṇāḥ proktā āpaḥ pitṛgaṇāstathā | tasmādasya jalaṃ deyaṃ pitṝṇāṃ hitamicchatā || 90 ||
‘ఆపః’ దేవగణములని చెప్పబడినవి; ‘ఆపః’ పితృగణములుగానూ ఉన్నవి. కనుక పితృహితం కోరువాడు వారికి జలార్పణ చేయాలి।
Sanatkumara
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
FAQs
The verse identifies water as a sacred medium connected to both Devas and Pitṛs, teaching that offering water (tarpana/jala) is a direct, dharmic act for promoting ancestral welfare.
While primarily a ritual-dharma instruction, it supports bhakti through reverent service to sacred order (ṛta)—honoring Devas and Pitṛs with water offerings as an expression of faith, gratitude, and purity.
It highlights ritual application (kalpa-prayoga) relevant to śrāddha/tarpaṇa: the use of water as the prescribed offering-medium for Pitṛ-kārya within Vedic ritual discipline.