Shloka 23

The Greatness of Offering Piṇḍas at Viṣṇvādipada (Viṣṇupada) — Gayā Śrāddha Procedure and Fruits

Devanagari script

श्राद्धँ कृत्वा चंद्रपदे वाजिमेधफलं लभेत् । श्राद्धं कृत्वा सत्यपदे ज्योतिष्टोमफलं लभेत् ॥ २३ ॥

Transliteration

śrāddhaṃ kṛtvā caṃdrapade vājimedhaphalaṃ labhet | śrāddhaṃ kṛtvā satyapade jyotiṣṭomaphalaṃ labhet || 23 ||

Translation

ผู้ใดประกอบพิธีศราทธะ ณ จันทรปท ย่อมได้บุญผลเสมอมหายัญวาชิเมธ/อัศวเมธ และผู้ใดประกอบศราทธะ ณ สัตยปท ย่อมได้บุญผลเสมอยัญจโยติษโฏมะ

Word by Word

• श्राद्धम्: śrāddha rite
• श्राद्धम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• कृत्वा: having performed
• कृत्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकाल; having done

• चन्द्रपदे: in the ‘Chandra’ pada/position
• चन्द्रपदे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्द्र-पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (चन्द्रस्य पदम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Neuter, Locative, Singular

• वाजिमेधफलम्: fruit of the Aśvamedha sacrifice
• वाजिमेधफलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाजिमेध-फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (वाजिमेधस्य फलम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• लभेत्: would obtain
• लभेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Parasmaipada; ‘may obtain/should obtain’

• श्राद्धम्: śrāddha rite
• श्राद्धम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• कृत्वा: having performed
• कृत्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकाल; having done

• सत्यपदे: in the ‘Satya’ pada/position
• सत्यपदे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य-पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (सत्यस्य पदम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Neuter, Locative, Singular

• ज्योतिष्टोमफलम्: fruit of the Jyotiṣṭoma sacrifice
• ज्योतिष्टोमफलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्योतिष्टोम-फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (ज्योतिष्टोमस्य फलम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• लभेत्: would obtain
• लभेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Parasmaipada; ‘may obtain/should obtain’

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a tirtha-mahatmya/ritual-merit sequence; traditional dialogue framework with Sanatkumara lineage)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Candrapada
• Satyapada
• Shraddha
• Jyotishtoma
• Vajimedha

FAQs

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

It teaches that properly performed śrāddha at specific tīrthas can yield merit comparable to major Vedic sacrifices, highlighting tīrtha-mahātmyas and the power of pitr̥-kārya done with faith.

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

While framed as ritual merit, it implies bhakti through śraddhā (reverent faith) and sacred intention—honoring ancestors at holy places as a dharmic act aligned with devotion and gratitude.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual science (Kalpa) is central: the verse compares śrāddha-phala with Jyotiṣṭoma and other yajñas, reflecting how Vedic rites are evaluated by prescribed results (phala) and proper performance at designated sacred sites.