Shloka 62

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

Devanagari script

स्वमंत्रैरथ संपूज्य परमाः पितृदेवताः । यावंतस्तु तिलाः पुंभिर्गृहीताः पितृकर्मणि ॥ ६२ ॥

Transliteration

svamaṃtrairatha saṃpūjya paramāḥ pitṛdevatāḥ | yāvaṃtastu tilāḥ puṃbhirgṛhītāḥ pitṛkarmaṇi || 62 ||

Translation

随后以自身所持真言，恭敬供奉统摄祖灵的至上祖神。凡男子为祖先之仪所拈取的芝麻（tila）有多少，其等量的功德与满足便回向于诸祖灵（Pitṛ）。

Word by Word

• स्व-मन्त्रैः: with (his) own mantras
• स्व-मन्त्रैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व + मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; ‘with one’s own mantras’

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable particle (निपात) indicating sequence

• संपूज्य: having duly worshipped
• संपूज्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-√पूज् (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्), having worshipped

• परमाः: supreme
• परमाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; agrees with ‘पितृदेवताः’

• पितृ-देवताः: the ancestral deities
• पितृ-देवताः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ + देवता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• यावन्तः: as many as
• यावन्तः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यावत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; correlatives with implied ‘तावन्तः’

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात)

• तिलाः: sesame seeds
• तिलाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• पुम्भिः: by men
• पुम्भिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुम्स् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• गृहीताः: taken/held
• गृहीताः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; agrees with ‘तिलाः’

• पितृ-कर्मणि: in the ancestral rite
• पितृ-कर्मणि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ + कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

Speaker

Narada (instructional narration within Uttara-Bhaga ritual context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Pitṛdevatāḥ
• Pitṛs

FAQs

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

It links mantra-worship of the Pitṛ-related deities with the tangible ritual act of taking sesame for śrāddha, teaching that even the count/measure of tila used in Pitṛ-karman becomes spiritually consequential for ancestral satisfaction and merit.

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

Bhakti here appears as reverent, mantra-centered worship (saṃpūjā) offered with faith and correctness; devotion is expressed through disciplined ritual service to the Pitṛ-devatās rather than mere external handling of offerings.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It emphasizes ritual procedure (Kalpa/Śrauta–Gṛhya application): using prescribed mantras and correctly employing tila in pitṛ-karma, showing how mantra and material offering are coordinated in Vedic rite.