Shloka 129

Ācāra-Nirṇaya: Varṇa-Āśrama Dharma, Śauca, Snāna, Sandhyā, Japa, Tarpaṇa, and Gṛhastha-Dinacaryā

Devanagari script

नाभिमात्रे जले स्थित्वा चिन्तयेदूर्जमानसः / आगच्छन्तु मे पितर इमं गृह्णन्त्वपोञ्जलिम्

Transliteration

nābhimātre jale sthitvā cintayedūrjamānasaḥ / āgacchantu me pitara imaṃ gṛhṇantvapoñjalim

Translation

واقفًا في الماء إلى السُّرّة، بعقلٍ ثابتٍ مفعمٍ بالقوّة، ليتأمّل وليدعُ: «ليأتِ پِتْريّ (Pitṛs) أسلافي؛ وليقبلوا هذه الكفّة من الماء المقدَّمة بكفّين مضمومتين».

Word by Word

• नाभिमात्रे: at navel-depth
• नाभिमात्रे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाभि + मात्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (नाभेः मात्रा = navel-deep)

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

• स्थित्वा: having stood
• स्थित्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund)

• चिन्तयेत्: should contemplate
• चिन्तयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चिन्त् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ऊर्जमानसः: with a strong mind
• ऊर्जमानसः: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऊर्ज + मानस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (ऊर्जः/बलस्य मानसः = strong-minded)

• आगच्छन्तु: let (them) come
• आगच्छन्तु: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद; आ-उपसर्ग

• मे: my
• मे: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• पितरः: ancestors
• पितरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• इमम्: this
• इमम्: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम; अञ्जलिम् इति विशेष्यं

• गृह्णन्तु: let (them) accept
• गृह्णन्तु: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• अपः: waters
• अपः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (बहुवचन-प्रयोग), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• अञ्जलिम्: handful (offering)
• अञ्जलिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अञ्जलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: During tarpaṇa while standing navel-deep in water

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Tarpaṇa requires bodily posture, mental steadiness (ūrja-manas), and explicit invitation to Pitṛs; intention (saṅkalpa) animates the rite.

Vedantic Theme: Mind as instrument in karma; saṅkalpa and śraddhā refine action toward subtle recipients.

Application: During remembrance rites, stabilize breath and attention; speak/think the invitation clearly while offering water with joined palms.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: river/pond/ghāṭa (standing in water)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.213.130 (three añjalis to the south); Garuda Purana 1.213.131 (purity of water and vessel)

Characters & Entities

• Pitris

FAQs

What is the importance of offering apoñjali (water in joined palms) to Pitṛs in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents apoñjali as a direct, respectful invocation—standing in purified water and mentally focused—so the Pitṛs are invited and ritually “given” refreshment/oblation, forming a key act within śrāddha and tarpaṇa observances.

How does this verse relate to the Garuda Purana’s teachings on post-death rites?

In the Preta Kanda context, correct ancestral offerings support the departed line and maintain dharmic continuity; the verse emphasizes proper posture, purity (water), and intent (contemplation) as the ritual mechanism by which Pitṛs are addressed and satisfied.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing tarpaṇa or śrāddha, prioritize cleanliness, calm concentration, and a clear invocation to ancestors—offering water with joined palms as a disciplined act of remembrance and duty.