Shloka 53

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

Devanagari script

ये बांधवाबांधवा वा येऽन्यजन्मनि बांधवाः । तेषां पिंडो मया दत्ते ह्यक्षय्यमुपतिष्ठताम् ॥ ५३ ॥

Transliteration

ye bāṃdhavābāṃdhavā vā ye'nyajanmani bāṃdhavāḥ | teṣāṃ piṃḍo mayā datte hyakṣayyamupatiṣṭhatām || 53 ||

Translation

无论他们是亲族或非亲族，或是在他生曾为我亲族者——愿我所奉献的 piṇḍa（祭祖供团）到达他们，并成为不朽不竭、恒常有效，利益于彼等。

Word by Word

• ये: who (those)
• ये: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• बांधवाः: kinsmen/relatives
• बांधवाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बान्धव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• अबांधवाः: non-relatives
• अबांधवाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ-बान्धव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; नञ्-प्रत्यय (negation)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (disjunctive particle: 'or')

• ये: who (those)
• ये: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• अन्य-जन्मनि: in another birth
• अन्य-जन्मनि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक) + जन्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (other + birth)

• बांधवाः: kinsmen/relatives
• बांधवाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बान्धव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• पिण्डः: rice-ball offering (piṇḍa)
• पिण्डः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• मया: by me
• मया: Karana (करण/Instrument; agentive instrumental)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• दत्ते: given (offered)
• दत्ते: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु) → दत्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृत्-प्रत्यय (past passive participle, क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी/प्रथमा?; प्रयोगः: 'मया दत्ते' = 'given by me' (locative absolute/elliptic)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक/हेतौ अव्यय (particle: indeed/for)

• अक्षय्यम्: imperishable
• अक्षय्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object; predicate complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-क्षय्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; नञ्-समास/उपसर्ग (imperishable)

• उपतिष्ठताम्: may (it) attend/stand by (them)
• उपतिष्ठताम्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-स्था (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद

Speaker

Narada (teaching within the Uttara-Bhaga tīrtha/śrāddha context, traditionally framed in dialogue with Sanatkumāra lineage)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It teaches an inclusive sankalpa in śrāddha: the merit of piṇḍa-dāna can be dedicated beyond one’s known ancestors, extending to any beings who were connected as kin in other births, so the offering becomes akṣaya (unfailing in spiritual efficacy).

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

By offering with a broad, compassionate intention and surrendering the reach of the gift to dharma, the practitioner aligns ritual action with a devotional mindset—service offered selflessly, trusting the divine order to deliver its fruit to the rightful recipients.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights ritual application (Kalpa) through the wording of sankalpa—how to formally dedicate piṇḍa-dāna so it includes known, unknown, and past-life relations, aiming for akṣaya-phala (lasting result).