Shloka 81

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

Devanagari script

शरत्काले ऽपि पठितं श्राद्धकाले प्रयच्छति / अस्माकमेतत्पुरुषैस्तृप्तिं पञ्चदशाब्दिकीम्

Transliteration

śaratkāle 'pi paṭhitaṃ śrāddhakāle prayacchati / asmākametatpuruṣaistṛptiṃ pañcadaśābdikīm

Translation

Selbst wenn er in der Herbstzeit rezitiert wird, verleiht er seine Frucht zur Zeit des Śrāddha; dadurch erlangen unsere Ahnen fünfzehn Jahre lang Zufriedenheit.

Word by Word

• शरत्काले: in autumn
• शरत्काले: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरत् + काल (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (शरदः कालः)

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्भावन/अपवादार्थक-अव्यय (even)

• पठितम्: recited
• पठितम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पठ् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• श्राद्धकाले: at the time of śrāddha
• श्राद्धकाले: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध + काल (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (श्राद्धस्य कालः)

• प्रयच्छति: bestows/gives
• प्रयच्छति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + यम् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अस्माकम्: of us/our
• अस्माकम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• एतत्: these/this
• एतत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम; ‘this’ (qualifying पुरुषैः)

• पुरुषैः: by persons/men
• पुरुषैः: Karana (Instrument/Agent-instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• तृप्तिम्: satisfaction
• तृप्तिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तृप्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• पञ्चदशाब्दिकीम्: lasting fifteen years
• पञ्चदशाब्दिकीम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्चदश + आब्दिक (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (पञ्चदश-अब्दाः यस्याः सा)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vainateya)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Śarat season recitation; fruit manifests at Śrāddha-time; benefit duration stated as fifteen years.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Recitation generates extended-duration karmaphala: pitṛ satisfaction lasting fifteen years.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala-niyati (lawful fruition) mediated by śabda and saṅkalpa; subtle continuity between living action and pitṛ state.

Application: Recite the text even in śarat; trust that its fruit manifests at Śrāddha and supports ancestors for a long term.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: quantified fruits (years) of Śrāddha/stotra acts; Garuda Purana: pitṛ-tṛpti duration statements in Śrāddha chapters

Characters & Entities

• Pitris
• Shraddha

FAQs

What is the importance of recitation in Śrāddha according to the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that recitation has a direct Śrāddha-time efficacy, producing ancestral satisfaction (tṛpti) as its specific fruit.

How does this verse explain the benefit given to the ancestors (Pitris)?

It frames the result as measurable tṛpti for the forefathers—described here as lasting fifteen years—emphasizing continuity of benefit beyond the immediate ritual day.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform Śrāddha with attentive recitation and remembrance of ancestors, treating the reading as an offering (upacāra) meant to support Pitris with sincerity and regularity.