Shloka 156
Brahmā’s Puṣkara Sacrifice and the Manifestation of Sarasvatī
with Tīrtha-Merit Teachings
एकविंशकुलोपेताः स्वर्गं यास्यंति ते नराः । पितॄणां च शुभं तीर्थं पिंडेनैकेन तर्पिताः
ekaviṃśakulopetāḥ svargaṃ yāsyaṃti te narāḥ | pitṝṇāṃ ca śubhaṃ tīrthaṃ piṃḍenaikena tarpitāḥ
أولئك الرجال، ومعهم ما ينال سلالتهم من ثوابٍ يمتدّ إلى إحدى وعشرين طبقة، يمضون إلى السماء؛ وبقُربانٍ واحد من بيṇḍa يُرضون الآباء (Pitṛs)، إذ يصير ذلك نسكًا مقدّسًا مباركًا للأجداد.
Unspecified (narrative voice within Sṛṣṭikhaṇḍa context; exact dialogue speaker not provided in the input excerpt).
Concept: Pitṛ-sevā through śrāddha is powerful: a single piṇḍa at the right sacred locus can liberate and elevate an entire lineage.
Application: Perform ancestral rites with care; cultivate gratitude to forebears; support family continuity through ethical living and remembrance, not only ritual.
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"At the river’s edge, a son kneels on kusa grass, offering a single, carefully shaped piṇḍa with water-libations, his face composed yet tender. Behind him, translucent ancestral figures—twenty-one generations suggested as a fading procession—receive the offering with calm relief, while the sky opens into a gentle svarga-vision.","primary_figures":["son performing śrāddha","ancestral pitṛs (ethereal forms)","brāhmaṇa guide (optional)"],"setting":"quiet tīrtha ghāṭa with ritual mat, darbha grass, water pot (kalaśa), small offering plate; distant trees and still water","lighting_mood":"moonlit","color_palette":["silver gray","smoky blue","pale gold","earth brown","white jasmine"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: central figure of the son offering one piṇḍa at a river-ghat; ethereal pitṛs in layered halos receiving blessings; gold leaf on halos, water highlights, and ritual vessels; rich maroon and emerald textiles; ornate border with lotus and conch motifs.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: intimate riverside śrāddha scene with delicate brushwork; soft moonlight on water; ancestors as faint, graceful silhouettes in the sky; cool palette and lyrical trees; refined facial expressions conveying compassion and duty.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: stylized son in profile with bold outlines; iconic piṇḍa and kalaśa; pitṛs as patterned, semi-transparent figures; strong red-yellow-green scheme tempered by moonlit blues; temple-wall symmetry.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: rhythmic procession of small ancestral figures above the river; central offering of a single piṇḍa framed by lotus borders; peacocks perched on stylized trees; deep indigo background with gold and white floral filigree."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"meditative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"serene","sound_elements":["soft flowing water","night insects","distant bell","ritual water pouring"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पिंडेनैकेन = पिण्डेन एकेन; (एकविंशकुलोपेताः is a compound; internal sandhi: कुल + उपेताः → कुलोपेताः)
FAQs
It states that the spiritual merit extends to twenty-one generations of one’s family line, implying that proper ancestral rites are believed to uplift both the performer and their lineage.
The verse emphasizes sufficiency: even one properly offered piṇḍa can satisfy the Pitṛs, framing the act as a śubha tīrtha—an auspicious sanctifying observance with significant spiritual efficacy.
It encourages gratitude and responsibility toward ancestors through śrāddha-related duties, teaching that sincere, correctly performed rites—rather than quantity—are central to honoring the Pitṛs.