Shloka 51

Śrāddha-vidhi for Pitṛs: Invitations, Purity, Offerings, and Conduct

Devanagari script

ततः संस्तीर्य तत्स्थाने दर्भान् वैदक्षिणाग्रकान् / त्रीन् पिण्डान् निर्वपेत् तत्र हविः शेषात्समाहितः

Transliteration

tataḥ saṃstīrya tatsthāne darbhān vaidakṣiṇāgrakān / trīn piṇḍān nirvapet tatra haviḥ śeṣātsamāhitaḥ

Translation

پھر اسی جگہ دربھ گھاس کو جنوب رُخ سِروں کے ساتھ بچھائے، اور یکسو ہو کر ہویس کے بقیہ حصے سے وہاں تین پِنڈ رکھے۔

Word by Word

• tataḥ: thereafter
• tataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) of sequence: 'thereafter'

• saṃstīrya: having spread (out)
• saṃstīrya: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: saṃ√stṝ (धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), from saṃ√stṝ 'to spread, strew'; 'having spread'

• tat-sthāne: in that place
• tat-sthāne: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + sthāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; Tatpuruṣa: 'in that place'

• darbhān: kuśa-grass blades
• darbhān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: darbha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural

• vai-dakṣiṇa-agrakān: with tips turned southward
• vai-dakṣiṇa-agrakān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi (उपसर्ग) + dakṣiṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + agra (प्रातिपदिक) + -ka (तद्धित)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural; adjective qualifying darbhān; Tatpuruṣa: 'having tips to the south/right' (dakṣiṇāgra) with taddhita -ka

• trīn: three
• trīn: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tri (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural; numeral adjective qualifying piṇḍān

• piṇḍān: rice-balls/offerings
• piṇḍān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: piṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural

• nirvapet: should place/offer
• nirvapet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nir√vap (धातु)
• Form: Verb; Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); parasmaipada; 'should place/offer'

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb of place (देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण)

• haviḥ: oblation/food offering
• haviḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: havis (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; object of implied offering/placing (nirvapet)

• śeṣāt: from the remainder
• śeṣāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śeṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular; 'from the remainder'

• samāhitaḥ: being composed/attentive
• samāhitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-ā-√dhā (धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; used adjectivally: 'collected, composed, attentive' (refers to the performer)

Speaker

Sūta (narrating the śrāddha procedure as taught in the Kurma Purana)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Darbha (Kuśa grass)
• Piṇḍa
• Havis
• Pitṛs (implied)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

How does this verse explain the nature of the Supreme Self (Atman)?

This verse is primarily procedural (śrāddha-vidhi) rather than metaphysical: it emphasizes disciplined attention (samāhitaḥ) and dharmic action, which in Purāṇic teaching supports inner purity that later aids knowledge of the Self.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The key yogic element is samādhāna—acting with a composed, concentrated mind (samāhitaḥ). Even in ritual, Kurma Purana stresses mental steadiness and correctness of direction and arrangement as part of dharma-shaped discipline.

How does this verse depict the relationship between Shiva and Vishnu?

It does not explicitly mention Śiva or Viṣṇu; instead it reflects the Kurma Purana’s broader synthesis where correct dharma (here, pitṛ-yajña/śrāddha) is upheld as a shared sacred order within which both Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava paths situate spiritual progress.