Shloka 58

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

Devanagari script

पशून्सारैव्यं धनं धान्यं प्राप्नुयात्पितृपूजनात् / देवकार्यादपि सदा पितृकार्यं विशिष्यते

Transliteration

paśūnsāraivyaṃ dhanaṃ dhānyaṃ prāpnuyātpitṛpūjanāt / devakāryādapi sadā pitṛkāryaṃ viśiṣyate

Translation

Durch die Verehrung der Pitṛs (Ahnengeister) erlangt man Vieh, Lebenskraft und Wohlergehen, Reichtum und Getreide. Wahrlich, die Riten für die Pitṛs gelten stets als erhabener sogar als die Riten für die Devas.

Word by Word

• पशून्: cattle
• पशून्: Karma (Object/Result)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पशु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• सारैव्यम्: valuable property (sāraivya)
• सारैव्यम्: Karma (Object/Result)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सारैव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; (rare/technical term, likely a kind of wealth/valuable)

• धनम्: wealth
• धनम्: Karma (Object/Result)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• धान्यम्: grain
• धान्यम्: Karma (Object/Result)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धान्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• प्राप्नुयात्: would obtain/should obtain
• प्राप्नुयात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√आप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• पितृ-पूजनात्: from worship of the ancestors
• पितृ-पूजनात्: Hetu/Apadana (Cause/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक) + पूजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पितॄणां पूजनम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; ablative

• देव-कार्यात्: than divine rites (from devakārya)
• देव-कार्यात्: Apadana (Comparison source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (देवानां कार्यम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; ablative

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अपवाद/समुच्चयबोधक निपात (even/also)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Desha-Kala (Time adjunct)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (adverb of time)

• पितृ-कार्यम्: ancestral rite/duty
• पितृ-कार्यम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक) + कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पितॄणां कार्यम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• विशिष्यते: is distinguished/excels
• विशिष्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-√शिष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

Speaker

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

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: As per śrāddha tithi and family custom; also in annual pitṛ observances.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Pitṛ-pūjana yields concrete prosperity (cattle, vitality, wealth, grain) and is declared superior to deva-kārya—emphasizing repayment of ancestral debt (pitṛ-ṛṇa).

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as ṛṇa-traya fulfillment; sustaining lineage and social order as sacred responsibility.

Application: Do not neglect ancestral rites in favor of only deity worship; integrate pitṛ offerings/charity/feeding as a regular priority in household practice.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana discussions on pitṛ-ṛṇa and the primacy of śrāddha within gṛhastha dharma

Characters & Entities

• Pitris
• Devas

FAQs

What is the importance of Pitṛ-kārya (Śrāddha/Tarpaṇa) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that propitiating the Pitṛs brings tangible worldly support—livestock, prosperity, wealth, and grain—and it explicitly ranks Pitṛ rites as superior to Deva rites.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana context?

In the Preta Kanda framework, Pitṛ rites sustain the ancestral line and support departed souls through proper offerings, indicating that caring for the Pitṛs is a key dharmic duty connected to post-death welfare.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain regular ancestral observances (e.g., tarpaṇa, śrāddha, feeding others in memory of ancestors) alongside daily worship, treating Pitṛ obligations as a priority within dharma.