Shloka 56

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

Devanagari script

विरूपा आमगर्भाश्च ज्ञातज्ञाताः कुले मम । तेषां पिंडो मया दत्तो ह्यक्षय्यमुपतिष्ठताम् ॥ ५६ ॥

Transliteration

virūpā āmagarbhāśca jñātajñātāḥ kule mama | teṣāṃ piṃḍo mayā datto hyakṣayyamupatiṣṭhatām || 56 ||

Translation

ในตระกูลของข้าพเจ้า ไม่ว่าผู้มีรูปกายบกพร่อง ผู้ยังอยู่ในครรภ์ ผู้ที่รู้จักหรือไม่รู้จัก—ขอให้ปิณฑะที่ข้าพเจ้าถวายเพื่อเขาทั้งหลายเป็นบุญไม่สิ้นและค้ำจุนอยู่เสมอ

Word by Word

• विरूपाः: deformed/ugly
• विरूपाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• आम-गर्भाः: miscarried/with unformed fetus
• आम-गर्भाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आम (प्रातिपदिक) + गर्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: 'आमः गर्भः येषाम्/आमगर्भाः' (with unripe/aborted fetus; miscarried)

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

• ज्ञात-अज्ञाताः: known and unknown
• ज्ञात-अज्ञाताः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञात (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + अज्ञात (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (known and unknown)

• कुले: in the family
• कुले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• पिण्डः: piṇḍa offering
• पिण्डः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• मया: by me
• मया: Karana (करण/Instrument; agentive instrumental)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया, एकवचन

• दत्तः: given/offered
• दत्तः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दा (धातु) → दत्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; पिण्डः इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• अक्षय्यम्: imperishable
• अक्षय्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object; predicate complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-क्षय्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• उपतिष्ठताम्: may (it) attend/stand by
• उपतिष्ठताम्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-स्था (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद

Speaker

Narrator (Uttara-bhaga tirtha-mahātmya voice; ritual declarative statement within the discourse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

FAQs

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

It universalizes śrāddha/ piṇḍa-dāna: the merit is intended to reach even those ancestors who are unknown, unnamed, or who died in difficult conditions (including in the womb), and it prays that the offering become akṣaya (inexhaustible) in benefit.

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

While primarily a pitṛ-rite verse, it reflects bhakti as compassionate dharma—offering with sincerity and remembrance so that grace extends beyond one’s knowledge or record, aligning ritual action with a devoted, inclusive intention.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is implied: piṇḍa-dāna as a formal śrāddha act, including the sankalpa-like intent to cover known/unknown ancestors and to pray for akṣaya-phala (lasting ritual merit).