Shloka 25

Nāga–Nāgabhāryā Saṃvāda: Varṇa-Dharma, Gṛhastha-Discipline, and Mokṣa-Self-Inquiry

Mahābhārata 12.347

Devanagari script

एषा तस्य स्थितिर्विप्र पितर: पिण्डसंज्ञिता: । लभन्ते सततं पूजां वृषाकपिवचो यथा

Transliteration

eṣā tasya sthitir vipra pitaraḥ piṇḍasaṃjñitāḥ | labhante satataṃ pūjāṃ vṛṣākapivaco yathā, brahman |

Translation

Nārada nói: “Này Bà-la-môn, đó là trật tự đã được Ngài ấn định: các Pitṛ được gọi là ‘piṇḍa’—lễ vật tế tổ; và đúng theo lời của Vṛṣākapi, các vị ấy luôn luôn được mọi người thờ kính.”

Word by Word

• एषा: this (she/this state)
• एषा: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: एतद्
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• तस्य: of him/of that
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• स्थितिः: state/ordinance/established rule
• स्थितिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थिति
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• विप्र: O brahmin
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• पितरः: the Fathers/ancestors
• पितरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• पिण्डसंज्ञिताः: designated as 'piṇḍa'-named
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पिण्डसंज्ञित
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• लभन्ते: they obtain/receive
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ्
• Form: Present, Ātmanepada, Third, Plural

• सततम्: always/continually
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सतत

• पूजाम्: worship/honour
• पूजाम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूजा
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• वृषाकपिवचः: the word/utterance of Vṛṣākapi
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृषाकपिवचस्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• यथा: as/according to
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा

• ब्रह्मन्: O Brahmin (O learned one)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

नारद उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Nārada
• Pitṛs (ancestors)
• Vṛṣākapi (epithet/name, associated in tradition with Varāha)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

That honoring the ancestors through piṇḍa-offerings is a divinely sanctioned dharmic institution; the Pitṛs, being ‘piṇḍa-saṃjñita’, are entitled to continual reverence, reinforcing gratitude and responsibility toward lineage and society.

What is happening in the narrative?

Nārada explains to a brāhmaṇa the established rule by which the Pitṛs are connected with the piṇḍa offering and therefore receive ongoing worship, citing authoritative ‘words of Vṛṣākapi’ as the validating tradition.