Shloka 96

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

Devanagari script

लब्धलाभः पितॄन्देवान्ब्राह्मणांश्चैव पूजयेत् / ते तृप्तास्तस्य तद्दोषं शमयन्ति न संशयः

Transliteration

labdhalābhaḥ pitṝndevānbrāhmaṇāṃścaiva pūjayet / te tṛptāstasya taddoṣaṃ śamayanti na saṃśayaḥ

Translation

Hat man Gewinn erlangt, soll man die Pitṛs (Ahnen), die Devas und die Brāhmaṇas verehren. Sind sie zufrieden, so besänftigen sie ohne Zweifel die eigene Verfehlung (doṣa) jenes Menschen.

Word by Word

• लब्ध-लाभः: one who has obtained profit
• लब्ध-लाभः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लब्ध (लभ् धातु, क्त कृदन्त) + लाभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (लब्धः लाभः यस्य/लब्धलाभः)

• पितॄन्: the ancestors
• पितॄन्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• देवान्: the gods
• देवान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• ब्राह्मणान्: the Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Avyaya (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (and)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Avyaya (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक निपात (indeed)

• पूजयेत्: should worship/honor
• पूजयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• तृप्ताः: satisfied
• तृप्ताः: Karta (Subject complement/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तृप् (धातु) (कृदन्त: क्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle, क्त); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• तत्-दोषम्: that fault (sin)
• तत्-दोषम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + दोष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (तत् दोषम् = that fault)

• शमयन्ति: they pacify/remove
• शमयन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शम् (धातु) (णिच् causative: शमय-)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; णिजन्त (causative)

• न: no/not
• न: Avyaya (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negation)

• संशयः: doubt
• संशयः: Karta (Predicate nominal/प्रथमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (न संशयः = अव्ययीभाववत् वाक्यांशः)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: After obtaining gains/prosperity; suitable on śrāddha/tarpaṇa occasions as per family tradition

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Wealth should be consecrated through honoring Pitṛs, Devas, and Brāhmaṇas; their satisfaction pacifies the earner’s doṣa (fault) arising from livelihood/wealth-acquisition.

Vedantic Theme: Yajña-dāna-tapas as purifiers; transforming artha into punya through offering and reverence; reducing karmic taint via sattvic acts.

Application: After earning, allocate a portion to worship, charity, and support of learned/virtuous persons; maintain ancestral remembrance and gratitude practices.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: griha/mandapa (implied)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Shraddha/Preta-related sections emphasize Pitṛ-tarpaṇa, śrāddha, and dana as supports for ancestors and as purifiers for the living (contextual).

Characters & Entities

• Pitris
• Devas
• Brahmanas

FAQs

What is the importance of honoring Pitris, Devas, and Brahmanas in the Garuda Purana?

This verse teaches that prosperity should be followed by reverence and offerings to ancestors, deities, and learned Brāhmaṇas; their satisfaction is said to neutralize one’s doṣa (spiritual blemish).

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey and post-death rites?

By emphasizing Pitṛ-satisfaction, the verse supports the Garuda Purana’s broader śrāddha framework: acts that please Pitṛs are treated as protective and purifying, helping remove impediments (doṣas) that can affect one’s unseen welfare.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

After receiving income or success, set aside a portion for dharmic giving—perform tarpaṇa/śrāddha as appropriate, support temples/pujā, and offer dāna to qualified teachers or priests—cultivating gratitude and reducing harmful tendencies linked with greed.