Shloka 79

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

Devanagari script

ब्रह्महत्यादिपापौ३ घघातनाय विमुक्तये । अनेन स्नानपूजादि कुर्याच्छ्राद्धं सपिंडकम् ॥ ७९ ॥

Transliteration

brahmahatyādipāpau3 ghaghātanāya vimuktaye | anena snānapūjādi kuryācchrāddhaṃ sapiṃḍakam || 79 ||

Translation

เพื่อทำลายกองบาปที่เริ่มด้วยพรหมหัตยาและเพื่อบรรลุความหลุดพ้น พึงประกอบพิธีนี้คืออาบน้ำบูชาเป็นต้น และทำศราทธะพร้อมพิธีสปิณฑีกรณะ (sapiṇḍīkaraṇa) ด้วย

Word by Word

• ब्रह्महत्या-आदि-पाप-उघ-घातनाय: for the destruction of the flood of sins such as brahmahatyā
• ब्रह्महत्या-आदि-पाप-उघ-घातनाय: सम्प्रदान (Sampradāna/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्महत्या + आदि + पाप + ओघ + घातन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष-समास (ब्रह्महत्या-आदि- पाप-ओघस्य घातनम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; प्रयोजन/सम्प्रदान-भावः

• विमुक्तये: for liberation
• विमुक्तये: सम्प्रदान (Sampradāna/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विमुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थ

• अनेन: by/with this
• अनेन: करण (Karaṇa/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन

• स्नान-पूजा-आदि: bathing, worship, etc.
• स्नान-पूजा-आदि: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान + पूजा + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समाहार-द्वन्द्व (स्नानं पूजा च इत्यादि), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; ‘etc.’-समुच्चय

• कुर्यात्: should perform
• कुर्यात्: क्रिया (Kriyā/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• श्राद्धम्: śrāddha rite
• श्राद्धम्: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• सपिण्डकम्: with piṇḍa offerings
• सपिण्डकम्: कर्मविशेषण (Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + पिण्डक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष/उपपद-समास (पिण्डकसहितम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; श्राद्धम् इति विशेषण

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

FAQs

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

It teaches that a prescribed tirtha/rite-based regimen—ritual bathing, worship, and properly performed śrāddha—functions as a prāyaścitta (expiation) capable of destroying even heavy accumulations of sin and supporting the seeker’s liberation-oriented purification.

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

Bhakti is implied through pūjā (devotional worship) performed alongside purificatory acts; the verse frames devotion not as isolated sentiment but as expressed through disciplined, dharma-aligned worship and duties to ancestors.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is central: the verse points to correct performance of snāna, pūjā, and śrāddha, including sapiṇḍīkaraṇa—technical rites governed by śrauta/smārta ritual frameworks.