Shloka 10

Description of the Rules for Charitable Gifts and Related Rites

Gaṅgā-māhātmya

Devanagari script

मासं तर्पणमात्रेण पिंडसंपातनेन च । गंगायां पितरः सर्वे सुप्रीताः सूर्यवर्चसः ॥ १० ॥

Transliteration

māsaṃ tarpaṇamātreṇa piṃḍasaṃpātanena ca | gaṃgāyāṃ pitaraḥ sarve suprītāḥ sūryavarcasaḥ || 10 ||

Translation

只要在恒河中持续一月行简要的安慰奠祭（tarpaṇa），并兼献食团（piṇḍa），则一切祖灵（Pitṛ）皆大欢喜，光辉灿然如日。

Word by Word

• मासम्: for a month
• मासम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम्; कालावधि-निर्देशः (duration)

• तर्पणमात्रेण: by mere tarpaṇa (libation)
• तर्पणमात्रेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तर्पण + मात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे तृतीया एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (तर्पणस्य मात्रम् = mere tarpaṇa)

• पिण्डसंपातनेन: by the offering of piṇḍa
• पिण्डसंपातनेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड + संपातन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे तृतीया एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पिण्डस्य संपातनम् = offering/placing of piṇḍa)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्ययम्

• गङ्गायाम्: in the Ganges
• गङ्गायाम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे सप्तमी एकवचनम्

• पितरः: the ancestors (Pitṛs)
• पितरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम्

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• सुप्रीताः: highly pleased
• सुप्रीताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + प्रीत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• सूर्यवर्चसः: having sun-like radiance
• सूर्यवर्चसः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सूर्य + वर्चस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम्; बहुव्रीहिः (सूर्यवत् वर्चः येषाम्)

Speaker

Narada (teaching the tirtha-mahatmya and pitri-rites contextually within Uttara-Bhaga)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Rasa: {"primary_rasa":"shanta","secondary_rasa":"adbhuta","emotional_journey":"From the simplicity of sustained practice (a month of tarpaṇa and piṇḍa offerings) to the vivid result: all pitṛs become fully pleased and sun-radiant."}

Characters & Entities

• Ganga
• Pitrs
• Surya

FAQs

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

It declares the exceptional merit of performing ancestor-rites in the Gaṅgā: even simple tarpaṇa sustained for a month, along with piṇḍa-offerings, brings complete satisfaction to all Pitṛs.

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

While focused on Pitṛ-dharma, it aligns with bhakti-oriented purity: serving dharma at a Viṣṇu-favoured tīrtha like the Gaṅgā is presented as a potent, grace-filled act that yields results beyond ordinary effort.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It points to Kalpa (ritual procedure): tarpaṇa and piṇḍa-dāna as prescribed ancestral rites, with the tīrtha (Gaṅgā) emphasized as a multiplier of ritual efficacy.