Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 31, Shloka 54

Adhyaya 31 — Naimittika and Related Śrāddha Rites: Sapiṇḍīkaraṇa, Eligibility, Timing, and Procedure

Sanskrit

सतिलेन ततोऽन्नेन पिण्डान् सव्येन पुत्रक ।

पितानुद्दिश्य दर्भेषु दद्यादुच्छिष्टसन्निधौ ॥

Transliteration

satilena tato 'nnena piṇḍān savyena putraka ! / pitanuddiśya darbheṣu dadyāducchiṣṭasannidhau

Translation

Pagkatapos, O anak, gamit ang pagkaing hinaluan ng linga, dapat siyang maghandog ng mga piṇḍa sa pamamagitan ng kaliwang kamay, iniaalay sa ama, sa ibabaw ng damong darbha, sa may tabi ng pagkaing natirang ayon sa ritwal.

Word by Word

• स-तिलेन: with sesame
• स-तिलेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमास (सह-); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; करण (instrumental)

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रमवाचक (thereafter)

• अन्नेन: with food (rice etc.)
• अन्नेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; करण

• पिण्डान्: rice-balls (piṇḍas)
• पिण्डान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन

• सव्येन: with the left (hand)
• सव्येन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; करण; (left hand/left side)

• पुत्रक: O dear son
• पुत्रक: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; स्नेहवाचक (vocative, affectionate)

• पितॄन्: the fathers/ancestors
• पितॄन्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन

• उद्दिश्य: having addressed/dedicated (to)
• उद्दिश्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद् + दिश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive); 'उद्दिश्'—उद्देश्य/समर्पणार्थ (having dedicated/aimed at)

• दर्भेषु: on/among darbha grass
• दर्भेषु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दर्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), बहुवचन; अधिकरण (locative)

• दद्यात्: should offer
• दद्यात्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative); प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• उच्छिष्ट-सन्निधौ: in the presence of the remnants (i.e., near the offering remains)
• उच्छिष्ट-सन्निधौ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उच्छिष्ट (प्रातिपदिक) + सन्निधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—'उच्छिष्टस्य सन्निधौ'

Speakers

• Dharma-instruction within the Markandeya Purana narrative (addressing the listener as putraka)

Verse Rasa

{ "primaryRasa": "bhakti", "secondaryRasa": "shanta", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

Key Themes

• Pitṛ-pūjā
• Śrāddha
• Piṇḍa-dāna
• Ritual procedure
• Sesame (tila)

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Remembrance is enacted through precise giving: the piṇḍa is a concrete token of gratitude and continuity, offered with prescribed materials (tila, darbha) and disciplined gesture.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Ācāra/dharma instruction; not pañcalakṣaṇa.

What is the esoteric significance?

The piṇḍa symbolizes embodied lineage; darbha is a purifier and ‘seat’ for subtle recipients, while tila is traditionally linked with pitṛs—together forming a ritual bridge between gross and subtle realms.