Shloka 72

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

Devanagari script

श्राद्धेषु य इमं भक्त्या त्वस्मत्प्रीतिकरं स्तवम् / पठिष्यति द्विजाग्र्याणां भुञ्जतां पुरतः स्थितः

Transliteration

śrāddheṣu ya imaṃ bhaktyā tvasmatprītikaraṃ stavam / paṭhiṣyati dvijāgryāṇāṃ bhuñjatāṃ purataḥ sthitaḥ

Translation

Wer bei den śrāddha-Riten, vor den Vornehmsten der Zweimalgeborenen stehend, während sie die Speise zu sich nehmen, mit Hingabe diesen Lobgesang rezitiert, der dir und mir wohlgefällig ist—

Word by Word

• श्राद्धेषु: in śrāddha rites
• श्राद्धेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, सप्तमी (7th case)

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सम्बन्ध-सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा (1st case)

• इमम्: this
• इमम्: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम-विशेषण, पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया (2nd case); स्तवम् इत्यस्य विशेषण

• भक्त्या: with devotion
• भक्त्या: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, एकवचन, तृतीया (3rd case)

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधारण/विरोधार्थक-निपात (but/indeed)

• अस्मत्प्रीतिकरम्: pleasing to us
• अस्मत्प्रीतिकरम्: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अस्मद् + प्रीति + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण, पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया (2nd case); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘अस्माकं प्रीतिं करोति’ (causing our pleasure)

• स्तवम्: praise, hymn
• स्तवम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्तव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया (2nd case)

• पठिष्यति: will recite
• पठिष्यति: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पठ् (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (simple future), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• द्विजाग्र्याणाम्: of the foremost twice-born (Brahmins)
• द्विजाग्र्याणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज + अग्र्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, षष्ठी (6th case); कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुषः ‘अग्र्याः द्विजाः’ (foremost Brahmins)

• भुञ्जताम्: of those who are eating
• भुञ्जताम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु) + शतृ (प्रत्यय)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (present participle), पुंलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, षष्ठी (6th case); ‘भुञ्जताम्’ = of those eating

• पुरतः: in front
• पुरतः: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, देशवाचक (adverb of place: in front)

• स्थितः: standing
• स्थितः: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्था (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा (1st case); यः इत्यस्य विशेषण

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (addressing Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: During śrāddha, while the foremost dvijas are partaking of the meal; reciter stands before them.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: During śrāddha, devotional recitation in the proper ritual moment enhances the rite’s efficacy and pleases the invoked divinity.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as a sacred order linking living and ancestors; devotion sanctifies action and intention.

Application: In ancestral rites, maintain correct etiquette (standing before the feeding Brahmanas) and add sincere stotra as a devotional support to the ritual.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: shraddha venue (home/riverbank/temple precinct)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Preta-khanda): extensive śrāddha-vidhi emphasizing mantra/stotra, dvija-bhojana, and proper timing

Characters & Entities

• Dwijas (Brahmins)
• Shraddha (rites for Pitris)

FAQs

What is the importance of reciting a stotra during Shraddha in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights that devotional recitation of a Vishnu-pleasing hymn during śrāddha—specifically in the presence of the Brahmins receiving the offering—is treated as a potent, ritually appropriate act that supports the intended sanctity and fruit of the rite.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by emphasizing correct śrāddha performance (feeding and honoring qualified Brahmins along with sacred recitation), it points to the Garuda Purana’s broader theme that post-death welfare is aided by dharmic rites done with devotion and proper procedure.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

During śrāddha, combine right conduct (respectful hosting and proper feeding) with sincere devotional recitation; keep attention on reverence, purity, and intention rather than treating the rite as a mere formality.