Shloka 4

Manasa Progenitors, Pitṛ Orders, Dakṣa’s Alliances, and the Dakṣa-Yajña Rupture

Devanagari script

अग्निष्वात्तांश्च कव्यादानाज्यपांश्च सुकालिनः / उपहूतांस्तथा दीप्यां (प्रा) स्त्रींश्च मूर्तिविवर्जितान्

Transliteration

agniṣvāttāṃśca kavyādānājyapāṃśca sukālinaḥ / upahūtāṃstathā dīpyāṃ (prā) strīṃśca mūrtivivarjitān

Translation

Und es gibt die Pitṛs Agniṣvātta, die Pitṛs Kavyāda; jene, die Ghee genießen, und jene, die die Opfergaben zur rechten Zeit empfangen. Ebenso die Klassen Upahūta und Dīpya; und auch die (Prā-)Strī—die ohne verkörperte Gestalt sind.

Word by Word

• अग्निष्वात्तान्: the Agniṣvāttas (a class of Pitṛs)
• अग्निष्वात्तान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक) + स्वात्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √स्वद्/स्वा?; 'well-offered/consumed')
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), बहुवचन; accusative plural; तत्पुरुष (अग्निना स्वात्ताः)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• कव्यादान्: the Kavyādas (receivers/eaters of oblations)
• कव्यादान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कव्य (प्रातिपदिक) + आद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), बहुवचन; accusative plural; तत्पुरुष (कव्यं आदन्ति/अदन्ति इति)

• आज्यपान्: the Ājyapās (drinkers of ghee)
• आज्यपान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आज्य (प्रातिपदिक) + प (प्रातिपदिक from √पा 'to drink')
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), बहुवचन; accusative plural; तत्पुरुष (आज्यं पिबन्ति)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• सुकालिनः: the Sukālins
• सुकालिनः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + कालिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), बहुवचन; accusative plural; कर्मधारय (सु-कालिनः = good-timed/auspicious)

• उपहूतान्: the invoked; the called-upon
• उपहूतान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-√ह्वा (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle) 'उपहूत'; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), बहुवचन; accusative plural

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/प्रकारार्थक (adverb: 'likewise')

• दीप्यान्: the Dīpyas
• दीप्यान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीप्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), बहुवचन; accusative plural; proper-class name (Dīpya)

• प्रा: (textual particle)
• प्रा: Sambandha (Discourse particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रा (अव्यय)
• Form: पाठान्तर/क्षेपक-अव्यय; अर्थे अनिश्चित (textual variant/particle)

• स्त्रीन्: women
• स्त्रीन्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), बहुवचन; accusative plural

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• मूर्तिविवर्जितान्: devoid of form
• मूर्तिविवर्जितान्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + विवर्जित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, वि-√वृज्/√वर्ज् 'to exclude')
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), बहुवचन; accusative plural; तत्पुरुष (मूर्त्या विवर्जिताः)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual reciprocity with ancestors operates through specific Pitṛ orders; subtle beings may be ‘mūrti-vivarjita’ yet efficacious recipients.

Vedantic Theme: Subtle ontology (sūkṣma-sattā) beyond gross embodiment; karma and ritual intention bridge visible and invisible realms.

Application: Perform śrāddha with proper invocations and sincerity; recognize that unseen beneficiaries (ancestors) are part of one’s moral ecosystem.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ancestral realm/ritual recipient sphere

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana śrāddha-kalpa passages detailing Pitṛ classifications and appropriate offerings (ajya, piṇḍa, tilodaka)

Characters & Entities

• Pitris
• Agniṣvātta Pitṛs
• Kavyāda Pitṛs
• Ājyapā Pitṛs
• Upahūta Pitṛs
• Dīpya Pitṛs

FAQs

What is the importance of Pitṛ classification in the Garuda Purana?

This verse lists specific classes of Pitṛs, indicating that ancestral rites (śrāddha, piṇḍa-dāna, tarpaṇa) are directed toward distinct ancestral beings recognized by name and function.

How does this verse relate to the journey after death described in the Garuda Purana?

By naming bodiless Pitṛ groups who receive offerings, the verse supports the text’s broader teaching that post-death welfare is linked to subtle recipients and prescribed rites, bridging the living and the departed through ritual merit.

What is a practical application of this teaching today?

Perform śrāddha/tarpaṇa with clarity of intent—honoring ancestors as real recipients in the tradition—and maintain timely, disciplined observances (sukāla) as emphasized by the verse.