Shloka 326
Vānaprastha-dharma and Tapas: Śiva–Umā Saṃvāda
Forest-Stage Discipline and Austerity
फल वृत्तिं च मार्ग च यश्चैनं प्रतिपद्यते । यह सब मैं सुनना चाहता हूँ। तीनों पिण्डोंकी जो गति होती है, उसका जो फल, वृत्ति और मार्ग है तथा जो देवता उस पिण्डको पाता है, उन सबपर प्रकाश डालिये
phala-vṛttiṁ ca mārgaṁ ca yaś cainaṁ pratipadyate |
Sabi ng banal na sugo: “Nais kong marinig ang tungkol sa bunga nito, sa paraan ng pag-iral at pagganap nito, at sa landas kung paano ito natatamo—gayundin kung sino ang tumatanggap nito. Pakiwari’y liwanagin: ano ang kapalaran ng tatlong piṇḍa, ano ang bunga, ang paraan ng pagganap (vṛtti), ang daan (mārga), at kung aling diyos ang tumatanggap sa bawat piṇḍa.”
देवदूत उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a dharmic inquiry: ritual acts should be understood through (1) their phala (ethical/spiritual result), (2) their vṛtti (how they ‘work’—the sustaining principle and proper performance), and (3) their mārga (the correct means/path). It emphasizes informed practice—knowing the intended recipient and consequence—rather than mechanical observance.
A divine messenger is being questioned (or continues a dialogue) about the doctrine surrounding offerings called ‘piṇḍas’ (as clarified by the accompanying Hindi gloss). The speaker asks for an explanation of the fate/gati of the three piṇḍas, the results they yield, the manner in which they operate, the path by which they are properly directed, and which deity is said to receive each.