Shloka 34

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

Devanagari script

तीर्थं चापि समागत्य श्राद्धं प्रारब्ध वांस्तु सः / फलं पक्वन्तु जानक्या सिद्धं रामे निवेदितम्

Transliteration

tīrthaṃ cāpi samāgatya śrāddhaṃ prārabdha vāṃstu saḥ / phalaṃ pakvantu jānakyā siddhaṃ rāme niveditam

Translation

Und nachdem er auch an einem heiligen Tīrtha angelangt ist, soll er die Śrāddha-Riten ordnungsgemäß beginnen. Mögen die Früchte reifen — wie die Gabe Jānakīs, nachdem sie bereitet war, Rāma als vollendet dargebracht wurde.

Word by Word

• तीर्थम्: to the sacred place (tīrtha)
• तीर्थम्: Karma/Object (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन (Singular)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle: also)

• समागत्य: having arrived
• समागत्य: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + आ + गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव (indeclinable)

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

• प्रारब्धम्: begun/undertaken
• प्रारब्धम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + रभ् (धातु) → प्रारब्ध (कृदन्त; क्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन (Singular); श्राद्धम् इति कर्मणः विशेषणम्

• वान्: having (done so); one who had begun
• वान्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वत् (प्रातिपदिक-प्रत्यय; possessive)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (Singular); 'प्रारब्धवान्' इत्यर्थे (one who has begun)

• तु: indeed/and
• तु: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन (Singular)

• फलम्: fruit
• फलम्: Karma/Object (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); अत्र कर्मरूपेण (object)

• पक्वन्तु: let (them) cook/ripen
• पक्वन्तु: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पच् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/benedictive sense), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural)

• जानक्या: by Jānakī (Sītā)
• जानक्या: Karana/Agent (करण/कर्तृकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जानकी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन (Singular)

• सिद्धम्: prepared/ready
• सिद्धम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सिध् (धातु) → सिद्ध (कृदन्त; क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); फलम् इति विशेषणम्

• रामे: to/for Rāma
• रामे: Sampradana/Recipient (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी (7th/सम्प्रदान-आश्रय/अधिकरण), एकवचन (Singular)

• निवेदितम्: offered/presented
• निवेदितम्: Karma (object described)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + विद् (धातु) → निवेदित (कृदन्त; क्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); फलम्/सिद्धम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: At a tīrtha, during the appropriate śrāddha tithi (implied)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Begin śrāddha properly at a tīrtha; ritual correctness leads to ‘ripening’ of merit/results, exemplified through Jānakī’s prepared offering.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala-niyama: results mature according to right action, right context (deśa-kāla), and right intention.

Application: Perform śrāddha at appropriate times/places when possible; ensure offerings are properly prepared and formally offered to complete the rite without negligence.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: tīrtha/riverbank ritual site

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana śrāddha chapters on tīrtha-śrāddha, prārambha-vidhi, and siddhi-lakṣaṇa; Narrative exempla involving Rāma-Sītā used to validate ritual procedure

Characters & Entities

• Tirtha
• Shraddha
• Janaki (Sita)
• Rama

FAQs

What is the importance of performing śrāddha at a tīrtha in the Garuda Purana?

This verse links tīrtha-arrival with formally commencing śrāddha, implying that sacred locations strengthen the rite’s efficacy and help the intended spiritual ‘fruit’ (phala) mature for the departed and the performer.

How does this verse explain the results (phala) of śrāddha?

By using the image of ‘fruits ripening’ and an illustrative reference to an accomplished offering presented to Rāma, it conveys that properly initiated and completed śrāddha yields definite, mature results rather than uncertain or partial merit.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Begin ancestral rites with clarity and correctness—choose a sanctified setting when possible, perform the ritual with completion and sincerity, and treat offerings and remembrance as purposeful acts meant to produce real spiritual benefit.