Shloka 63

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

Devanagari script

गच्छंति भीता असुरा स्तावंतो गरुडाहिवत् । पूर्ववत्सकलं कर्म कुर्यात्तत्रापि मोहिनि ॥ ६३ ॥

Transliteration

gacchaṃti bhītā asurā stāvaṃto garuḍāhivat | pūrvavatsakalaṃ karma kuryāttatrāpi mohini || 63 ||

Translation

阿修罗惊惧而逃，如蛇见迦楼罗；却仍口诵赞颂。即便在彼处，噢迷惑者摩希尼，也当一如往昔，圆满行持一切仪轨与本分。

Word by Word

• गच्छन्ति: they go
• गच्छन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (plural)

• भीताः: frightened
• भीताः: Karta-anvayi (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भीत (कृदन्त; √भी)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifies ‘asurāḥ’)

• असुराः: demons
• असुराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• स्तावन्तः: praising (uttering praises)
• स्तावन्तः: Karta-anvayi (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्तावन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifies ‘asurāḥ’; sense: praising/uttering hymns)

• गरुडाहिवत्: like Garuḍa’s serpent (i.e., as a snake before Garuḍa)
• गरुडाहिवत्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: गरुड + अहि + वत् (प्रातिपदिक + प्रातिपदिक + अव्यय-प्रत्यय)
• Form: उपमानवाचक अव्यय (simile adverb); समास: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ‘गरुडस्य अहिः’ + ‘वत्’ (like)

• पूर्ववत्: as before
• पूर्ववत्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्ववत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), अर्थ: ‘as before/previously’

• सकलम्: entire
• सकलम्: Karma-anvayi (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सकल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifies ‘karma’)

• कर्म: ritual act / action
• कर्म: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कुर्यात्: should do
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधि), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (locative adverb)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha/Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अर्थ: ‘also/even’

• मोहिनि: O enchantress (Mohinī)
• मोहिनि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोहिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

Speaker

Narada (narrating within a Tirtha-Mahatmya passage; addressed to Mohinī in the verse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Rasa: {"primary_rasa":"vira","secondary_rasa":"bhayanaka","emotional_journey":"A surge of fear as the Asuras flee like snakes before Garuḍa, followed by a stabilizing return to orderly dharma—‘perform the rites as before’—even amid enchantment (Mohinī)."}

Characters & Entities

• Mohinī
• Asuras
• Garuḍa

FAQs

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

It contrasts fear-driven surrender (the Asuras praising while fleeing) with steady dharma: even amid extraordinary events, one should continue prescribed duties and rites “as before” (pūrvavat), emphasizing continuity of righteous conduct.

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

The verse hints that praise offered under fear is unstable, while true devotion is expressed through consistent, disciplined practice—keeping one’s karmic and ritual obligations intact rather than reacting only to dramatic circumstances.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It underscores kalpa-oriented discipline (ritual procedure): perform the full set of prescribed actions (sakalaṃ karma) according to established method (pūrvavat), reflecting the importance of correct ritual order and continuity.