Shloka 24

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

Devanagari script

तिलाज्यदधिमध्वादि पिंडद्रव्येषु योजयेत् । संबधिनस्तिलाद्यैश्च कुशैष्वावाहयेत्ततः ॥ २४ ॥

Transliteration

tilājyadadhimadhvādi piṃḍadravyeṣu yojayet | saṃbadhinastilādyaiśca kuśaiṣvāvāhayettataḥ || 24 ||

Translation

พึงผสมงา เนยใส โยเกิร์ต/นมเปรี้ยว น้ำผึ้ง และสิ่งอื่นๆ ลงในเครื่องปิณฑะ แล้วใช้งาเป็นต้นอัญเชิญบรรพชนผู้เกี่ยวข้องเข้าสู่ใบหญ้ากุศะ।

Word by Word

तिल-आज्य-दधि-मधु-आदिsesame, ghee, curd, honey, etc.

पिण्ड-द्रव्येषुin the materials for the piṇḍa

योजयेत्should mix/add

सम्बधिनःthe relatives (ancestors/kinsmen)

तिल-आद्यैःwith sesame etc.

चand

कुशेषुon/among the kuśa grass

आवाहयेत्should invoke/call (them)

ततःthen, thereafter

Speaker

Narada (instructional narration in ritual context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Rasa: {"primary_rasa":"shanta","secondary_rasa":"none","emotional_journey":"Matter-of-fact ritual precision: from enriching piṇḍa substances to the solemn act of āvāhana (invocation) into kuśa."}

Characters & Entities

Pitrs

Kuśa

Tila

FAQs

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

It teaches the correct sanctification of piṇḍa offerings and the formal invocation (āvāhana) of the Pitṛs, emphasizing that ancestral rites must be performed with prescribed purity and method for the rite to become spiritually efficacious.

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

While primarily ritual, it supports bhakti through disciplined dharma: honoring Pitṛs as part of sacred duty, performed with reverence and correctness, becomes an offering-minded act aligned with devotional living.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Kalpa (ritual procedure) and Smṛti-based prayoga: the use of specific dravyas (tila, ghee, curd, honey) and the kuśa-āvāhana method as a technical rule for śrāddha performance.