Shloka 6
Tarpaṇa-vidhi (Rite of Water-libations) for Devas and Pitṛs
ॐ ऊर्जं वहन्तीरमृतं घृतं पयः कीलालं परिस्नुतं स्वधा स्थ तर्पयत मे पितॄन् / ॐ पितृभ्यः स्वधा नमः / ॐ पितामहेभ्यः स्वधा नमः / ॐ प्रपितामहेभ्यः स्वधान नमः / ॐ मातामहेभ्यः स्वधा नमः / ॐ प्रमातामहेभ्यः स्वधा नमः / ॐ वृद्धप्रमातामहेभ्यः स्वधा नमः / पितामहस्यदृ / ॐ अक्षन्पितरो अमीमदन्त पितरो अमी तृप्यन्तः पितरः शुं(स्व) धध्वं पिबेह पितरो ऽपि वानत्रयांश्च विश्रयांश्च भवनपवित्रत्वा रथपति ते जातवेदाः स्वधाभिर्यज्ञं सुकृतं जुपस्व? / ॐ णदुवाता ऋतायते मधु क्षरन्ति सिन्धवः / माध्वीर्नः सन्त्वोषधीर्मधुनक्तमुतोषसो मधुमत्पार्थिवं रजः / मधु द्यौरस्तु नः पिता मधु मान्नो वनस्पतिर्मधुभाम् अस्तु सूर्यो माध्वीर्गावो भवन्तु नः
oṃ ūrjaṃ vahantīramṛtaṃ ghṛtaṃ payaḥ kīlālaṃ parisnutaṃ svadhā stha tarpayata me pitṝn / oṃ pitṛbhyaḥ svadhā namaḥ / oṃ pitāmahebhyaḥ svadhā namaḥ / oṃ prapitāmahebhyaḥ svadhāna namaḥ / oṃ mātāmahebhyaḥ svadhā namaḥ / oṃ pramātāmahebhyaḥ svadhā namaḥ / oṃ vṛddhapramātāmahebhyaḥ svadhā namaḥ / pitāmahasyadṛ / oṃ akṣanpitaro amīmadanta pitaro amī tṛpyantaḥ pitaraḥ śuṃ(sva) dhadhvaṃ pibeha pitaro 'pi vānatrayāṃśca viśrayāṃśca bhavanapavitratvā rathapati te jātavedāḥ svadhābhiryajñaṃ sukṛtaṃ jupasva? / oṃ ṇaduvātā ṛtāyate madhu kṣaranti sindhavaḥ / mādhvīrnaḥ santvoṣadhīrmadhunaktamutoṣaso madhumatpārthivaṃ rajaḥ / madhu dyaurastu naḥ pitā madhu mānno vanaspatirmadhubhām astu sūryo mādhvīrgāvo bhavantu naḥ
Om – O Ströme, die erhaltende Kraft, Milch und süßen Trank tragen – verweilt als Svadha und stellt meine Pitrs zufrieden. Om, Huldigung mit Svadha an die Pitrs. Om – süß sind die Winde; süß fließen die Flüsse; süß seien unsere Kräuter. Süß seien Nacht und Morgenröte; süß sei die Sonne für uns.
Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda on pitṛ-tarpaṇa mantras)
Afterlife Stage: Svarga
Ritual Type: Parvana
Beneficiary: Pitr
Timing: During tarpana/śrāddha offering sequence—svadhā liquids and nourishing substances are invoked to satisfy pitṛs; followed by śānti ‘madhu’ benediction.
Concept: Offerings should be life-sustaining and pure; when performed with svadhā and right intention, the rite harmonizes nature and society (madhu—sweet concord).
Vedantic Theme: World-affirming sacredness: the same brahman/order is intuited as ‘sweetness’ pervading all; yajña aligns microcosm and macrocosm.
Application: Pair remembrance rites with tangible nourishment—feeding, clean water, care for herbs/land; cultivate ‘madhu-bhāva’ (sweet speech, non-harshness) in daily life.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: tīrtha/ritual-space
Related Themes: Garuda Purana śrāddha/tarpaṇa mantras using svadhā and nourishment imagery; adjacent verses continue pitṛ-tarpaṇa
FAQs
This verse frames tarpaṇa as a direct act of ‘tarpayata’—refreshing and satisfying the Pitṛs through svadhā, linking nourishment-offerings (water, milk, ghee, sweet libations) with ancestral contentment and ritual merit.
Svadhā is presented as the specific oblation-formula and offering-power meant for Pitṛs (distinct from ‘svāhā’ for devas), through which ancestors ‘partake, drink, and become satisfied,’ enabling auspiciousness to be established for the living.
Perform śrāddha/tarpaṇa with sincerity, correct intention, and clean offerings (water with appropriate mantras; optionally milk/ghee as per tradition), remembering both paternal and maternal lines and dedicating the act to ancestral peace and family welfare.