Shloka 18

The Procedure for Offering Piṇḍa (Funerary Rice-balls) — Gayā-māhātmya

Devanagari script

मदीयाः पितरो ये च कुले जाताः सनाभयः । तेषां पिंडप्रदानार्थमागतोऽस्मि गयामिमाम् ॥ १८ ॥

Transliteration

madīyāḥ pitaro ye ca kule jātāḥ sanābhayaḥ | teṣāṃ piṃḍapradānārthamāgato'smi gayāmimām || 18 ||

Translation

Con đã đến thánh địa Gayā này để dâng piṇḍa cho tổ tiên của chính con—những vị sinh trong dòng tộc của con, cùng các thân quyến chung một huyết hệ.

Word by Word

• मदीयाः: my
• मदीयाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मदीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन; विशेषण (adjective)

• पितरः: fathers/ancestors
• पितरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन

• ये: who
• ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक-सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• कुले: in the family/lineage
• कुले: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative)

• जाताः: born
• जाताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु) → जात (कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle, क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘born’

• सनाभयः: uterine kinsmen/close relatives
• सनाभयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स + नाभि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘समान-नाभि-सम्बन्धिनः’ (having the same navel = uterine/close kin)

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th case), बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध (genitive)

• पिण्ड-प्रदान-अर्थम्: for the purpose of offering rice-balls
• पिण्ड-प्रदान-अर्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रदान (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थक (for the purpose)

• आगतः: (I have) come
• आगतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + गम् (धातु) → आगत (कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle, क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘come’

• अस्मि: I am
• अस्मि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन

• गयाम्: to Gayā
• गयाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; कर्म (object of motion)

• इमाम्: this
• इमाम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; विशेषण (demonstrative)

Speaker

Narrator within the Gayā-māhātmya dialogue (a pilgrim/devotee expressing intent for Śrāddha); framed in the broader Narada Purana discourse

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Gayā
• Pitṛs

FAQs

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

The verse states the pilgrim’s sankalpa: coming to Gayā specifically to perform piṇḍadāna for one’s Pitṛs, highlighting Gayā as a foremost tīrtha for ancestral rites and pitṛ-śānti (appeasement and upliftment of ancestors).

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

Here bhakti is expressed as reverent service to dharma through Pitṛ-kārya—honoring one’s ancestors with faith at a sacred tīrtha. In Purāṇic teaching, such sincere ritual action, done with devotion and right intent, becomes a form of devotional duty aligned with cosmic order.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It points to Kalpa (ritual procedure) in practice—specifically śrāddha/ piṇḍadāna performed at a tīrtha. The verse also implies the importance of correct sankalpa (ritual intention) and lineage specification, which are standard components of śrauta/smārta rite-structure.