Shloka 22

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

Devanagari script

वसुरुद्रादितिसुताः पितरः श्राद्धदेवताः / प्रीणयाते मनुष्याणां पितॄञ्श्राद्धेषु तर्पिताः

Transliteration

vasurudrāditisutāḥ pitaraḥ śrāddhadevatāḥ / prīṇayāte manuṣyāṇāṃ pitṝñśrāddheṣu tarpitāḥ

Translation

Die Pitṛs — aus den Vasus, Rudras und Ādityas hervorgegangen — sind die leitenden Gottheiten des Śrāddha-Ritus. Wenn der Mensch in den Śrāddha-Zeremonien Tarpaṇa (Wasserlibationen) darbringt und die Ahnen sättigt, werden jene Pitṛs den Menschen wohlgesinnt.

Word by Word

• वसु-रुद्र-आदिति-सुताः: the Vasus, Rudras, and Ādityas (sons of Aditi)
• वसु-रुद्र-आदिति-सुताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसु + रुद्र + आदिति + सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास (वसवश्च रुद्राश्च आदितिसुताश्च)

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

• श्राद्ध-देवताः: deities of the śrāddha
• श्राद्ध-देवताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध + देवता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (श्राद्धस्य देवताः = deities of śrāddha)

• प्रीणयाते: (they) two please/satisfy
• प्रीणयाते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रीणय् (धातु-प्रयोजक/णिजन्त from √प्री)
• Form: लट् (Present); आत्मनेपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), द्विवचन

• मनुष्याणाम्: of humans
• मनुष्याणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनुष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

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

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

• तर्पिताः: satiated, satisfied
• तर्पिताः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तृप् (धातु) → तर्पित (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त; विशेषण (pitṝn)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vainateya)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Śrāddha occasions (tithi-based; parvaṇa framing implied)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Pitṛs, as śrāddha-devatās with divine origin, are pleased when humans perform śrāddha with tarpaṇa and satisfaction of ancestors.

Vedantic Theme: Devata-tattva within karma-kāṇḍa: ritual acts align the individual with cosmic hierarchies and subtle agencies.

Application: Invoke and honor the śrāddha-devatās; perform tarpaṇa and offerings carefully, cultivating gratitude and continuity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: loka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana enumerations of śrāddha-devatās and pitṛ-gaṇas; Passages describing tarpaṇa as pleasing to pitṛs and beneficial to performers

Characters & Entities

• Pitris
• Vasus
• Rudras
• Adityas
• Shraddha

FAQs

What is the importance of Pitṛ-tarpaṇa in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that the Pitṛs are the very deities of śrāddha, and when they are satisfied through tarpaṇa in śrāddha, they become pleased with the performer—making ancestor-satisfaction a central purpose of the rite.

How does this verse explain the role of śrāddha in the after-death context?

By identifying the Pitṛs as śrāddha-devatās and emphasizing their gratification through offerings, the verse frames śrāddha as a dharmic mechanism to support and honor the ancestral line in the post-death framework taught in the Preta Kanda.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform śrāddha and tarpaṇa with sincerity and correct intent—treating it as an act of gratitude and responsibility to one’s lineage—thereby strengthening dharma, family continuity, and ethical living.