Shloka 26

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

Devanagari script

स्वगोत्रे वा विगोत्रे वा दंपत्योः पिंडपातने । अपृथङ्निष्फलं श्राद्धं पिंडं चोदकतर्पणम् ॥ २६ ॥

Transliteration

svagotre vā vigotre vā daṃpatyoḥ piṃḍapātane | apṛthaṅniṣphalaṃ śrāddhaṃ piṃḍaṃ codakatarpaṇam || 26 ||

Translation

భర్తా-భార్యలు ఒకే గోత్రానికి చెందినా లేదా వేరు గోత్రాలైనా, వారి పిండదానాన్ని వేరుచేయకుండా కలిపి చేస్తే శ్రాద్ధం నిష్ఫలమవుతుంది; పిండమూ, ఉదకతర్పణమూ ఫలించవు।

Word by Word

• स्व-गोत्रे: in (case of) same gotra
• स्व-गोत्रे: अधिकरण (Condition/context)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व + गोत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (स्वं गोत्रम्)

• वा: or
• वा: विकल्प (Alternative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प-अव्यय (Disjunctive particle)

• वि-गोत्रे: in (case of) different gotra
• वि-गोत्रे: अधिकरण (Condition/context)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वि + गोत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; उपसर्गपूर्वक-प्रातिपदिक (different gotra)

• वा: or
• वा: विकल्प (Alternative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प-अव्यय (Disjunctive particle)

• दम्पत्योः: of the couple (husband and wife)
• दम्पत्योः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दम्पती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (दम्पती-शब्दः), षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), द्विवचन

• पिण्ड-पातने: at the offering/placing of piṇḍas
• पिण्ड-पातने: अधिकरण (Occasion/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड + पातन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पिण्डस्य पातनम्)

• अ-पृथक्: not separately
• अ-पृथक्: क्रियाविशेषण (Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पृथक् (अव्यय) with नञ्- (अ-)
• Form: नञ्-पूर्वक अव्यय; ‘not separately’

• निष्फलम्: fruitless
• निष्फलम्: विशेषण (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निष्फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण (श्राद्धम्/पिण्डम्/उदकतर्पणम्)

• श्राद्धम्: the śrāddha rite
• श्राद्धम्: कर्ता/विषय (Subject/topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• पिण्डम्: the piṇḍa offering
• पिण्डम्: कर्ता/विषय (Co-subject/topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (Conjunction)

• उदक-तर्पणम्: water-libation (tarpana)
• उदक-तर्पणम्: कर्ता/विषय (Co-subject/topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उदक + तर्पण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (उदकेन तर्पणम्/उदकस्य तर्पणम्)

Speaker

Narada (teaching śrāddha-vidhi within Uttara-Bhāga’s dharma/ritual instructions)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

FAQs

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

It stresses ritual precision in śrāddha: offerings must be properly distinguished for the intended recipients; otherwise, the act is considered ineffective (niṣphala) and fails to confer the intended pitṛ-benefit.

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

Indirectly, it frames devotion as disciplined worship: reverence for dharma and careful performance of prescribed rites is presented as a form of sincere religious conduct supporting one’s spiritual life.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) and Smārta-vidhi are highlighted—specifically, technical rules for piṇḍa placement and udaka-tarpaṇa, and the importance of correct recipient-separation in śrāddha.