Shloka 10
Pitṛ-tīrtha Context: Marks of Sin, Śrāddha Discipline, and Karmic Ripening
in Yayāti’s Narrative
पितरो नैव भुंजंति देवाश्चैव न भुंजते । एतच्च पातकं तस्य पितृघातसमं कृतम्
pitaro naiva bhuṃjaṃti devāścaiva na bhuṃjate | etacca pātakaṃ tasya pitṛghātasamaṃ kṛtam
Weder die Ahnen nehmen an der Opfergabe teil, noch nehmen die Götter sie an. Diese Sünde gilt als dem Vatermord gleich.
Unspecified (narrative voice within Bhūmi-khaṇḍa; commonly framed in the Pulastya–Bhīṣma dialogue in Padma Purāṇa contexts, but not explicit from the single verse).
Concept: Improper conduct renders śrāddha offerings ineffective: neither ancestors nor gods accept them; the doṣa is equated to pitṛ-hatyā in severity.
Application: Treat rites as ethical acts, not mere procedure: reconcile with family, avoid exclusion/violence, and perform offerings with humility and correctness.
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"In a ritual chamber, piṇḍas and libations are offered, yet the air turns heavy: translucent ancestral figures stand with closed palms, and distant deva-forms fade into shadow, refusing the oblation. Above the householder looms a symbolic dark silhouette of ‘pitṛ-hatyā’—not literal violence, but the weight of an act deemed equivalent.","primary_figures":["householder","brāhmaṇa priest","pitṛs (ancestral spirits, subtle)","devas (subtle, receding)","personified pāpa-shadow (allegorical)"],"setting":"Śrāddha space with darbha, water vessels, fireless offering setup, and a small Viṣṇu lamp; background dissolves into a liminal, unseen realm where acceptance/refusal is shown.","lighting_mood":"moonlit","color_palette":["ashen white","midnight blue","smoky black","pale gold","rust red"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: śrāddha scene with ornate brass vessels and a Viṣṇu lamp; pitṛs depicted as subtle haloed figures refusing offerings, devas receding; allegorical pāpa-shadow above; heavy gold leaf for halos and vessels, rich reds/greens, dramatic contrast, temple-like framing.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: liminal spiritual tableau—soft, translucent pitṛ figures with gentle halos; devas fading into mist; the householder shown small and remorseful; cool nocturnal palette, delicate brushwork, refined expressions, atmospheric depth.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines with stylized pitṛ and deva forms; refusal shown through hand gestures and turned faces; strong chiaroscuro using natural pigments, temple-wall narrative symbolism, patterned borders.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: symbolic composition with central offering arrangement; pitṛs in a circular frieze refusing; devas as lotus-like motifs fading; deep indigo ground with gold highlights, intricate floral borders, moral allegory emphasized through symmetry."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"fast-dramatic","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["conch shell (distant)","low ominous drone","sudden silence between pāda-s","faint wind"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: नैव = न + एव; देवाश्चैव = देवाः + च + एव; एतच्च = एतत् + च.
FAQs
It indicates that due to the performer’s grave fault (pātaka), the ritual offering becomes unacceptable—so neither ancestors (Pitṛs) nor gods (Devas) receive its benefit.
The verse uses an extreme comparison to stress that neglecting or corrupting one’s duty toward ancestors is a serious moral breach with severe spiritual consequences.
It reinforces that ancestor rites are not merely formalities; purity of conduct and correct dharmic intention are essential for the offerings to be effective and accepted.