Shloka 45

Pitṛ-Stuti, Tarpaṇa, and the Ritual Power of Recitation in Śrāddha

Devanagari script

वरो वरेण्यो वरदस्तुष्टिदः पुष्टिदस्तथा / विश्वपाता तथा धाता सप्तैते च गणाः स्मृताः

Transliteration

varo vareṇyo varadastuṣṭidaḥ puṣṭidastathā / viśvapātā tathā dhātā saptaite ca gaṇāḥ smṛtāḥ

Translation

فارا، وفارينيَا، وفارادا، وتُشْتِدا، وبُشْتِدا، وفيشفاباتا، ودهاتا—هذه السبعة تُذكَر كجماعة واحدة (غَنا).

Word by Word

• वरः: excellent/boon
• वरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वरेण्यः: most worthy/choice
• वरेण्यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वरेण्य (प्रातिपदिक; √वृ (धातु) + अनीय/एण्य)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अनीयार्थक/योग्यतावाचक कृदन्त-विशेषण

• वरदः: giver of boons
• वरदः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक) + द (प्रातिपदिक; ‘giver’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (वरस्य दः)

• तुष्टिदः: giver of satisfaction
• तुष्टिदः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तुष्टि (प्रातिपदिक) + द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (तुष्टेः/तुष्ट्याः दः)

• पुष्टिदः: giver of nourishment/prosperity
• पुष्टिदः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्टि (प्रातिपदिक) + द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पुष्टेः/पुष्ट्याः दः)

• तथा: also/likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अन्वयार्थक (also/likewise)

• विश्वपाता: protector of the universe
• विश्वपाता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्व (प्रातिपदिक) + पातृ (प्रातिपदिक; ‘protector/guardian’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (विश्वस्य पाता)

• तथा: and likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक

• धाता: supporter/creator
• धाता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धा (धातु) + तृ (कृत्) → धातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तृवाचक कृदन्त

• सप्त: seven
• सप्त: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्त (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (गणाः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)

• एते: these
• एते: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• गणाः: groups/classes
• गणाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• स्मृताः: are said/remembered
• स्मृताः: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) + क्त (कृत्) → स्मृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोगे विधेय

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Lord as the worthy object of choice (vareṇya) and as the giver of boons, satisfaction, nourishment, and cosmic support.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara as dhātā (sustainer) and viśvapātā (protector of the world); grace (anugraha) as the unseen cause behind contentment and flourishing.

Application: Use these names when seeking steadiness: recite before meals (puṣṭi), before major decisions (vareṇya), and during anxiety (tuṣṭi) to re-anchor in gratitude.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.89.44-48 (name-groups connected with Pitṛ satisfaction and welfare)

Characters & Entities

• Vara
• Varenya
• Varada
• Tustida
• Pustida
• Vishvapata
• Dhata

FAQs

What is the importance of listing these seven (sapta gaṇāḥ) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse preserves a traditional enumeration of a specific divine/cosmic group, emphasizing ordered classification (gaṇa) within sacred cosmology and dharmic teaching.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by presenting cosmic functionaries (bestowers, sustainers, protectors), it frames the universe as governed by ordered powers—an underlying premise for later teachings on karma, destiny, and post-death administration.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate the qualities implied by the names—contentment (tuṣṭi), nourishment/support (puṣṭi), and protection/sustaining responsibility—aligning daily conduct with dharma.