Shloka 64

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

Devanagari script

तिलमिश्रांस्तथा सक्तून्निःक्षिपेत्प्रेतपर्वते । ये केचित्प्रेतरूपेण वर्तंते पितरो मम ॥ ६४ ॥

Transliteration

tilamiśrāṃstathā saktūnniḥkṣipetpretaparvate | ye kecitpretarūpeṇa vartaṃte pitaro mama || 64 ||

Translation

พึงวางสักตุ (แป้งธัญพืชคั่ว) ที่คลุกงาไว้บน ‘ภูเขาเปรต’ ด้วยเจตนาว่า “ขอให้บรรพชนของข้าพเจ้าผู้ดำรงอยู่ในรูปเปรตทั้งหลายจงอิ่มเอมเถิด”

Word by Word

• तिलमिश्रान्: mixed with sesame
• तिलमिश्रान्: Karma-anvayi (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तिल + मिश्र (प्रातिपदिक + प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; समास: तत्पुरुष (तिलैः मिश्राः = sesame-mixed); विशेषण (qualifies ‘saktūn’)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), अर्थ: ‘thus/likewise’

• सक्तून्: parched grain flour (saktu)
• सक्तून्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सक्तु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• निःक्षिपेत्: should place/throw down
• निःक्षिपेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-क्षिप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; उपसर्ग: निः-

• प्रेतपर्वते: on the ‘Preta-mountain’
• प्रेतपर्वते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेत + पर्वत (प्रातिपदिक + प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; समास: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (प्रेतानां पर्वतः)

• ये: who (those who)
• ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative pronoun)

• केचित्: some
• केचित्: Karta-anvayi (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क + चित् (सर्वनाम/अव्यय-निपात)
• Form: अनिश्चितवाचक सर्वनाम (indefinite pronoun), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; अर्थ: ‘some’

• प्रेतरूपेण: in the form of a preta (ghost)
• प्रेतरूपेण: Kriya-visheshana (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेत + रूप (प्रातिपदिक + प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; समास: तत्पुरुष (प्रेतस्य रूपम्)

• वर्तन्ते: exist/are present
• वर्तन्ते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृत् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• पितरः: ancestors/fathers
• पितरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• मम: of me / my
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic instruction within the Uttara-bhāga’s tīrtha/ritual discourse; traditionally framed as Sūta conveying the teaching)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Rasa: {"primary_rasa":"karuna","secondary_rasa":"shanta","emotional_journey":"Compassion for forefathers in preta-state moves into calm, purposeful ritual action through offering saktu mixed with tila."}

Characters & Entities

• Pitṛs (ancestors)
• Preta (departed spirit state)

FAQs

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

It prescribes a targeted śrāddha-style offering—sesame mixed with saktu—meant specifically to relieve and satisfy ancestors who may be lingering in the preta condition, emphasizing compassionate duty (pitṛ-dharma).

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

While primarily ritual, it supports bhakti through seva-like responsibility: honoring one’s lineage and performing prescribed acts with sincere intention, which aligns personal piety with dharmic devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is implicit—choice of offering substance (tila, saktu), designated place (preta-parvata), and the sankalpa-like intent directed to pitṛs in a specific post-death state.