Shloka 28

Devanagari script

पितरो यान्ति देवत्वं नात्र कार्या विचारणा / मुण्डपृष्टे पदं न्यस्तं महादेवेन धीमता

Transliteration

pitaro yānti devatvaṃ nātra kāryā vicāraṇā / muṇḍapṛṣṭe padaṃ nyastaṃ mahādevena dhīmatā

Translation

إنَّ الـPitṛs (الأسلاف) يبلغون منزلة الآلهة—ولا مجال للشك في ذلك. فقد وضع مهاديڤا الحكيم قدمه على ظهر مُونْḍا (Muṇḍa).

Word by Word

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

• यान्ति: go
• यान्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• देवत्वम्: divinity, godhood
• देवत्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negative particle)

• अत्र: here, in this matter
• अत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (locative adverb)

• कार्या: to be done, necessary
• कार्या: Vidhana (विधान/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (to be done)

• विचारणा: consideration, deliberation
• विचारणा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विचारणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• मुण्डपृष्टे: on the bald back (of the tortoise/stone etc.)
• मुण्डपृष्टे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुण्ड + पृष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (मुण्डस्य पृष्ठम्)

• पदम्: a footstep, a place/mark
• पदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• न्यस्तम्: placed, set down
• न्यस्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि + अस् (धातु) > न्यस्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे ‘placed’

• महादेवेन: by Mahadeva (Śiva)
• महादेवेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महादेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (महान् देवः)

• धीमता: by the wise one
• धीमता: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धीमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; विशेषण (to महादेवेन)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Pitṛs are worthy of worship and can attain deva-bhāva through proper rites at empowered tīrthas.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara-anugraha as the enabling condition for dharma’s fruit; tīrtha as a field where karma bears intensified results.

Application: Perform pitṛ-tarpaṇa/śrāddha with faith at recognized tīrthas; remove skepticism that weakens ritual intent (saṅkalpa).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: tīrtha/śmaśāna-sannidhāna (pilgrimage locus)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana, Pretakalpa/Śrāddha-māhātmya sections on Gayā and Akṣaya-vaṭa; Garuda Purana passages praising pitṛ-tarpaṇa and tīrtha-śrāddha as ‘akṣaya’

Characters & Entities

• Pitris
• Mahadeva (Shiva)
• Munda

FAQs

What is the importance of the Pitris in the Garuda Purana?

This verse affirms that the Pitṛs can attain devatva (a divine state), reinforcing the significance of honoring ancestors and maintaining Pitṛ-related duties such as śrāddha.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

While not describing the preta-journey directly, it highlights a posthumous elevation for ancestors (Pitṛs), implying that righteous order and proper rites support higher destinies beyond suffering states.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain reverence for ancestors through ethical living and appropriate remembrance/śrāddha practices, cultivating gratitude and dharmic continuity in the family line.