Shloka 22

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

Devanagari script

नमस्ये ऽहं पितॄन्वैश्यैरर्च्यन्ते भुवि ये सदा / स्वकर्माभिरतैर्न्नित्यं पुष्पधूपान्नवारिभिः

Transliteration

namasye 'haṃ pitṝnvaiśyairarcyante bhuvi ye sadā / svakarmābhiratairnnityaṃ puṣpadhūpānnavāribhiḥ

Translation

Ich verneige mich vor den Pitṛs (Ahnenvätern), die auf Erden stets von den Vaiśyas verehrt werden—immer ihren eigenen Pflichten zugetan—mit Blumen, Räucherwerk, Speise und Wasser als Gaben.

Word by Word

• नमस्ये: I bow
• नमस्ये: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नमस् (धातु √नम्)
• Form: लट्, आत्मनेपद, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• पितॄन्: forefathers
• पितॄन्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• वैश्यैः: by vaiśyas (merchant class)
• वैश्यैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैश्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• अर्च्यन्ते: are worshipped
• अर्च्यन्ते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्च् (धातु √अर्च्)
• Form: लट्, कर्मणि (Passive), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, आत्मनेपद; √अर्च् (पूजायाम्)

• भुवि: on earth
• भुवि: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू (प्रातिपदिक: भुव्/भूमि)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमीविभक्ति (Locative/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• ये: who
• ये: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, बहुवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• स्वकर्माभिरतैः: by those devoted to their own duties
• स्वकर्माभिरतैः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व + कर्मन् + अभिरत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; समासः स्वकर्मणि अभिरताः (engaged in one’s own duties)

• नित्यम्: constantly
• नित्यम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• पुष्पधूपान्नवारिभिः: with flowers, incense, food, and water
• पुष्पधूपान्नवारिभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्प + धूप + अन्न + वारि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्वः (flowers, incense, food, and water as a set)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vainateya)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Regular/ongoing worship (nitya) alongside śrāddha spirit

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Consistent worship aligned with one’s vocation (svakarma) sustains Pitṛ satisfaction; regularity and duty are themselves sacred.

Vedantic Theme: Niṣkāma-karma orientation: sanctifying worldly activity by embedding worship and gratitude; dharma as harmonizer of artha and unseen merit.

Application: Maintain simple, regular ancestral remembrance—water offering, food sharing, incense/flowers—while honestly fulfilling one’s work duties.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: gṛha/settlement

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana guidance on daily tarpaṇa and household offerings as part of pañca-mahāyajña; Garuda Purana praise of svakarma-niṣṭhā in sustaining dharma

Characters & Entities

• Pitris
• Vaishyas

FAQs

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

This verse emphasizes reverence to the Pitṛs as a continual earth-based duty, fulfilled through regular offerings (flowers, incense, food, water), reinforcing ancestral rites as part of dharma.

How does this verse connect to Garuda Purana teachings on after-death rites?

By highlighting offerings to the Pitṛs, it supports the broader Garuda Purana framework where śrāddha/tarpaṇa and related acts sustain ancestral well-being and uphold the ritual link between descendants and the departed.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain regular ancestor remembrance—especially through water libations and food offerings with sincerity—while staying devoted to one’s rightful duties (svakarma) and ethical livelihood.