Shloka 53

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

Devanagari script

मन्वादीनां च नेतारः सूर्याचन्द्रमसोस्तथा / तान्नमस्याम्यहं सर्वान्पितॄनप्युदधावपि

Transliteration

manvādīnāṃ ca netāraḥ sūryācandramasostathā / tānnamasyāmyahaṃ sarvānpitṝnapyudadhāvapi

Translation

Ich verneige mich vor allen Führern, beginnend mit den Manus, ebenso vor Sonne und Mond; und ich verneige mich vor allen Pitṛs, selbst vor denen, die im Ozean weilen.

Word by Word

• मन्वादीनाम्: of Manu and others
• मन्वादीनाम्: Sambandha (Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनु (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (मनुः आदिः येषाम्); पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Connector
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction)

• नेतारः: leaders
• नेतारः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नेतृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• सूर्याचन्द्रमसोः: of the Sun and the Moon
• सूर्याचन्द्रमसोः: Sambandha (Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक) + चन्द्रमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समासः; पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), द्विवचन

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Connector/Adverbial
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/तुल्यत्ववाचक (adverb: likewise)

• तान्: them
• तान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• नमस्यामि: I bow to
• नमस्यामि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नमस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• सर्वान्: all
• सर्वान्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; ‘तान्/पितॄन्’ विशेषण

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

• अपि: also
• अपि: Connector/Emphasis
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक निपात (particle: also/even)

• उदधौ: in the ocean
• उदधौ: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उदधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Connector/Emphasis
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle: also/even)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Lunar tithis (esp. amāvāsyā) and solar/lunar markers for śrāddha; contextual applicability

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Comprehensive reverence: Manus (lawgivers), Sun-Moon (timekeepers), and Pitṛs in all abodes; dharma is upheld by honoring the sources of order and lineage.

Vedantic Theme: Unity-in-diversity: many cosmic functions yet one sacred order; remembrance bridges visible and invisible worlds.

Application: Live with time-awareness (Sun/Moon cycles), respect ethical foundations (Manu as archetype of law), and keep ancestral duties without limiting them to a single place or form.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: oceanic abode (symbolic/liminal)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.89.51-52 (continuation of the hymn’s salutation structure)

Characters & Entities

• Manus
• Surya
• Chandra
• Pitris

FAQs

What is the importance of Pitṛs (ancestors) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats the Pitṛs as worthy of reverence alongside cosmic authorities (Manus, Sun, Moon), indicating that honoring ancestors is a dharmic duty with spiritual weight.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By placing Pitṛs within the cosmic hierarchy, the verse hints that post-death welfare is connected to ancestral realms and remembrance—an idea that supports later Garuda Purana teachings on śrāddha and offerings benefiting the departed.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain respectful remembrance of ancestors and perform appropriate rites (e.g., śrāddha/tarpaṇa according to tradition), while living in alignment with dharma—gratitude and responsibility toward lineage are emphasized.