Shloka 26

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

Devanagari script

स्वगोत्रे वा विगोत्रे वा दंपत्योः पिंडपातने । अपृथङ्निष्फलं श्राद्धं पिंडं चोदकतर्पणम् ॥ २६ ॥

Transliteration

svagotre vā vigotre vā daṃpatyoḥ piṃḍapātane | apṛthaṅniṣphalaṃ śrāddhaṃ piṃḍaṃ codakatarpaṇam || 26 ||

Translation

Dù vợ chồng cùng gotra hay khác gotra, nếu dâng piṇḍa cho cả đôi chung một lượt (không phân riêng), thì lễ śrāddha trở nên vô hiệu—cả piṇḍa lẫn việc rưới nước cúng (udaka-tarpaṇa) đều không sinh quả.

Word by Word

• स्व-गोत्रे: in (case of) same gotra
• स्व-गोत्रे: अधिकरण (Condition/context)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व + गोत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (स्वं गोत्रम्)

• वा: or
• वा: विकल्प (Alternative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प-अव्यय (Disjunctive particle)

• वि-गोत्रे: in (case of) different gotra
• वि-गोत्रे: अधिकरण (Condition/context)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वि + गोत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; उपसर्गपूर्वक-प्रातिपदिक (different gotra)

• वा: or
• वा: विकल्प (Alternative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प-अव्यय (Disjunctive particle)

• दम्पत्योः: of the couple (husband and wife)
• दम्पत्योः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दम्पती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (दम्पती-शब्दः), षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), द्विवचन

• पिण्ड-पातने: at the offering/placing of piṇḍas
• पिण्ड-पातने: अधिकरण (Occasion/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड + पातन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पिण्डस्य पातनम्)

• अ-पृथक्: not separately
• अ-पृथक्: क्रियाविशेषण (Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पृथक् (अव्यय) with नञ्- (अ-)
• Form: नञ्-पूर्वक अव्यय; ‘not separately’

• निष्फलम्: fruitless
• निष्फलम्: विशेषण (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निष्फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण (श्राद्धम्/पिण्डम्/उदकतर्पणम्)

• श्राद्धम्: the śrāddha rite
• श्राद्धम्: कर्ता/विषय (Subject/topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• पिण्डम्: the piṇḍa offering
• पिण्डम्: कर्ता/विषय (Co-subject/topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (Conjunction)

• उदक-तर्पणम्: water-libation (tarpana)
• उदक-तर्पणम्: कर्ता/विषय (Co-subject/topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उदक + तर्पण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (उदकेन तर्पणम्/उदकस्य तर्पणम्)

Speaker

Narada (teaching śrāddha-vidhi within Uttara-Bhāga’s dharma/ritual instructions)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

FAQs

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

It stresses ritual precision in śrāddha: offerings must be properly distinguished for the intended recipients; otherwise, the act is considered ineffective (niṣphala) and fails to confer the intended pitṛ-benefit.

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

Indirectly, it frames devotion as disciplined worship: reverence for dharma and careful performance of prescribed rites is presented as a form of sincere religious conduct supporting one’s spiritual life.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) and Smārta-vidhi are highlighted—specifically, technical rules for piṇḍa placement and udaka-tarpaṇa, and the importance of correct recipient-separation in śrāddha.