Shloka 16

Glory of Puruṣottama: Pañcatīrthī Observance and Narasiṃha Worship

Devanagari script

नाभिमात्रे जले स्थित्वा विधिवद्देवता ऋषीन् । तिलोदकेन मतिमान्पितॄनन्यांश्च तर्पयेत् ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

nābhimātre jale sthitvā vidhivaddevatā ṛṣīn | tilodakena matimānpitṝnanyāṃśca tarpayet || 16 ||

Translation

立于水中至脐处，智者当依正仪以水行供献（tarpana）于诸天与诸仙；又以和芝麻之水（tila-udaka）令祖灵（pitṛ）及其他众类得满足。

Word by Word

• नाभि-मात्रे: at navel-depth
• नाभि-मात्रे: अधिकरण (अधिकरणम्/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाभि (प्रातिपदिक) + मात्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘नाभेः मात्रम्’ (up to the navel)

• जले: in water
• जले: अधिकरण (अधिकरणम्/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• स्थित्वा: having stood
• स्थित्वा: क्रियाविशेषण (पूर्वकाले/absolutive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/ल्यप्), अव्ययभाव; पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having stood)

• विधि-वत्: according to rule
• विधि-वत्: क्रियाविशेषण (manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक) + वत् (तद्धित)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb/क्रियाविशेषण)

• देवताः: the deities
• देवताः: कर्म (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन; ‘तर्पयेत्’ इत्यस्य कर्म

• ऋषीन्: the sages
• ऋषीन्: कर्म (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन; ‘तर्पयेत्’ इत्यस्य कर्म

• तिल-उदकेन: with sesame-water
• तिल-उदकेन: करण (करणम्/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिल (प्रातिपदिक) + उदक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘तिलयुक्तम् उदकम्’

• मतिमान्: being mindful
• मतिमान्: कर्ता (कर्ता/Subject, implied ‘सः/स्नातकः’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मतिमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्तृविशेषणम् (one who is mindful)

• पितṝन्: the ancestors
• पितṝन्: कर्म (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन; ‘तर्पयेत्’ इत्यस्य कर्म

• अन्यान्: others
• अन्यान्: कर्म (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (to ‘पितṝन्’ or additional recipients)

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• तर्पयेत्: should satisfy/offer libations to
• तर्पयेत्: क्रिया (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √तृप् (धातु) (causative sense ‘to satisfy’)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विध्यर्थ), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person/प्रथम), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

Speaker

Narada (teaching ritual procedure; dialogue context traditionally Narada instructing in tīrtha/vrata matters, often framed to Sanatkumara)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Devatāḥ
• Ṛṣayaḥ
• Pitṛs

FAQs

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

It presents tarpana as a sacred act of gratitude and cosmic reciprocity—honoring devas and ṛṣis, and especially sustaining the pitṛs through tilodaka—performed with bodily purity (standing navel-deep in water) and scriptural correctness (vidhivat).

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

While primarily ritual, it supports bhakti by training the devotee in humility and reverence—seeing worship not only as personal prayer but as service to divine orders (devas), sacred lineage (ṛṣis), and ancestral continuity (pitṛs), which complements Vishnu-centered dharma in tīrtha practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is emphasized: the correct posture/setting (water up to the navel) and the correct ritual substance (tila mixed with water) for pitṛ-tarpana, reflecting precision in śrauta/smārta observance.