Shloka 18

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

Devanagari script

मदीयाः पितरो ये च कुले जाताः सनाभयः । तेषां पिंडप्रदानार्थमागतोऽस्मि गयामिमाम् ॥ १८ ॥

Transliteration

madīyāḥ pitaro ye ca kule jātāḥ sanābhayaḥ | teṣāṃ piṃḍapradānārthamāgato'smi gayāmimām || 18 ||

Translation

ข้าพเจ้ามายังกายาอันศักดิ์สิทธิ์นี้ เพื่อถวายปิณฑะ (piṇḍa) แด่ปิตฤ (Pitṛ) บรรพชนของข้าพเจ้า—ผู้เกิดในสกุลของข้าพเจ้าและญาติร่วมสายตระกูลเดียวกัน

Word by Word

• मदीयाः: my
• मदीयाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मदीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन; विशेषण (adjective)

• पितरः: fathers/ancestors
• पितरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन

• ये: who
• ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक-सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• कुले: in the family/lineage
• कुले: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative)

• जाताः: born
• जाताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु) → जात (कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle, क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘born’

• सनाभयः: uterine kinsmen/close relatives
• सनाभयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स + नाभि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘समान-नाभि-सम्बन्धिनः’ (having the same navel = uterine/close kin)

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th case), बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध (genitive)

• पिण्ड-प्रदान-अर्थम्: for the purpose of offering rice-balls
• पिण्ड-प्रदान-अर्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रदान (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थक (for the purpose)

• आगतः: (I have) come
• आगतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + गम् (धातु) → आगत (कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle, क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘come’

• अस्मि: I am
• अस्मि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन

• गयाम्: to Gayā
• गयाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; कर्म (object of motion)

• इमाम्: this
• इमाम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; विशेषण (demonstrative)

Speaker

Narrator within the Gayā-māhātmya dialogue (a pilgrim/devotee expressing intent for Śrāddha); framed in the broader Narada Purana discourse

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Rasa: {"primary_rasa":"bhakti","secondary_rasa":"shanta","emotional_journey":"A pilgrim’s earnest intention (saṅkalpa-like resolve) to serve the forefathers culminates in reverent arrival at Gayā for piṇḍa-offering."}

Characters & Entities

• Gayā
• Pitṛs

FAQs

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

The verse states the pilgrim’s sankalpa: coming to Gayā specifically to perform piṇḍadāna for one’s Pitṛs, highlighting Gayā as a foremost tīrtha for ancestral rites and pitṛ-śānti (appeasement and upliftment of ancestors).

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

Here bhakti is expressed as reverent service to dharma through Pitṛ-kārya—honoring one’s ancestors with faith at a sacred tīrtha. In Purāṇic teaching, such sincere ritual action, done with devotion and right intent, becomes a form of devotional duty aligned with cosmic order.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It points to Kalpa (ritual procedure) in practice—specifically śrāddha/ piṇḍadāna performed at a tīrtha. The verse also implies the importance of correct sankalpa (ritual intention) and lineage specification, which are standard components of śrauta/smārta rite-structure.