Shloka 21

Śrāddha as Trans-realm Nourishment; Pitṛ-Conveyance; Piṇḍa-born Body and the ātivāhika; Bhakti-based Release

Devanagari script

पितरः श्राद्धमोक्तारो विश्वेर्देवैः सदा सह / एते श्राद्धं सदा भुक्त्वा पितॄन्सन्तर्पयन्त्यतः

Transliteration

pitaraḥ śrāddhamoktāro viśverdevaiḥ sadā saha / ete śrāddhaṃ sadā bhuktvā pitṝnsantarpayantyataḥ

Translation

Die Pitṛs sind die Empfänger der Śrāddha-Gaben, stets in Begleitung der Viśve Devas. Nachdem sie das Śrāddha genossen haben, sättigen und nähren sie wiederum die Ahnenväter; darum ist das Śrāddha geboten.

Word by Word

• पितरः: the Pitṛs (ancestors)
• पितरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), बहुवचन

• श्राद्धमोक्तारः: receivers/enjoyers of the śrāddha
• श्राद्धमोक्तारः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध + मोक्तृ (प्रातिपदिक); √मुच् (धातु) → मोक्तृ (कर्तृवाचक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (श्राद्धस्य मोक्तारः = receivers/enjoyers of śrāddha)

• विश्वैः: with the Viśvedevas
• विश्वैः: Sahakaraka (Association/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd/करण-सह), बहुवचन; (विश्‍वे देवाः)

• देवैः: with the gods
• देवैः: Sahakaraka (Association/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन

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

• सह: together with
• सह: Sahakaraka (Association/सह)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सहार्थक-निपात (with; governs instrumental)

• एते: these
• एते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• श्राद्धम्: śrāddha offering
• श्राद्धम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

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

• भुक्त्वा: having eaten/partaken
• भुक्त्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भुज् (धातु) → भुक्त्वा (क्त्वान्त अव्यय/कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त; पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (absolutive/gerund)

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

• सन्तर्पयन्ति: satisfy, gratify
• सन्तर्पयन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-तृप् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन

• अतः: therefore
• अतः: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थ/तस्मात्-अर्थ (therefore, hence)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Śrāddha-kāla; parvaṇa context with Viśve Devas

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Pitṛs are the authorized receivers of śrāddha, attended by Viśve Devas; by feeding them, one nourishes the ancestral line.

Vedantic Theme: Ṛta (cosmic order) expressed as yajña; interdependence of visible and invisible worlds through dharmic action.

Application: Offer śrāddha with proper invocation of Pitṛs and Viśve Devas; understand the rite as lineage-supporting duty.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: loka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Śrāddha-kalpa passages naming Pitṛs as śrāddha-bhoktṛs and describing devatā-sannidhāna; Lists of Viśve Devas attending śrāddha in related chapters

Characters & Entities

• Pitris
• Vishve Devas
• Shraddha

FAQs

What is the importance of Śrāddha in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that the Pitṛs are the proper recipients of Śrāddha, and after accepting it—along with the Viśve Devas—they become satisfied and thereby nourish the ancestral line, making Śrāddha a dharmic duty for ancestral well-being.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

While not describing the travel of the preta directly, it explains the supporting ritual mechanism: offerings made as Śrāddha are received by the Pitṛs (with divine participation), which helps maintain ancestral satisfaction—an important backdrop to post-death rites emphasized in the Preta Kanda.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform Śrāddha or at least Pitṛ-tarpana with faith and correctness, understanding it as an act of gratitude and continuity—supporting ancestral remembrance and encouraging ethical living through responsibility to one’s lineage.