Shloka 91

Devanagari script

नंदंति पितरस्तस्य सुप्रकृष्टेन कर्मणा । यद्गयास्थो ददात्यन्नं पितरस्तेन पुत्रिणः ॥ ९१ ॥

Transliteration

naṃdaṃti pitarastasya suprakṛṣṭena karmaṇā | yadgayāstho dadātyannaṃ pitarastena putriṇaḥ || 91 ||

Translation

因那至为殊胜的善行，他的祖先（Pitṛ）欢喜踊跃。若有人住在伽耶而以食物行施、作施罗陀（śrāddha）供养，则诸祖灵由此得享子嗣之福，使其家系得以延续。

Word by Word

• नन्दन्ति: rejoice
• नन्दन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नन्द् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन

• पितरः: the ancestors (pitṛs)
• पितरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन

• सु-प्रकृष्टेन: by very excellent
• सु-प्रकृष्टेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + प्रकृष्ट (कृदन्त; प्र + कृष् धातु, क्त)
• Form: नपुंसक/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (सु + प्रकृष्ट)

• कर्मणा: deed/act
• कर्मणा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

• यत्: whatever (that which)
• यत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-प्रत्यय (relative pronoun)

• गया-स्थः: one staying in Gayā
• गया-स्थः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गया (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थ (स्था धातु, कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (गयायां स्थितः)

• ददाति: gives
• ददाति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• अन्नम्: food
• अन्नम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• पितरः: to the ancestors
• पितरः: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative), बहुवचन; (पितृभ्यः अर्थे छन्दसि/प्रयोगे प्रथमा-रूपप्रयोगः)

• तेन: by that/thereby
• तेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

• पुत्रिणः: (he) becomes blessed with a son/son-bearing
• पुत्रिणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुत्रिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (possessed of a son)

Speaker

Sūta (narrating Narada Purana’s Gayā-māhātmya section; teaching framed within the Purāṇic dialogue tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Rasa: {"primary_rasa":"karuna","secondary_rasa":"bhakti","emotional_journey":"Moves from concern for the ancestors’ welfare to joy: the pitṛs rejoice when food is offered at Gayā, resulting in the continuity of lineage."}

Characters & Entities

• Pitṛs
• Gayā

FAQs

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

It declares Gayā-śrāddha as a supremely meritorious act that directly brings joy and satisfaction to the Pitṛs, strengthening the ancestral line through dharmic offerings.

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

Though the verse emphasizes ritual karma, it supports bhakti indirectly by honoring one’s lineage and performing śrāddha with श्रद्धा (faith) at a Viṣṇu-associated tīrtha like Gayā—an act traditionally aligned with devotion and gratitude.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It points to Kalpa (ritual procedure) and Dharmaśāstra-based śrāddha practice—specifically the prescribed offering of anna at a tīrtha (Gayā) for Pitṛ-satisfaction and lineage continuity.