Shloka 18

Pitṛ-Stuti, Tarpaṇa, and the Ritual Power of Recitation in Śrāddha

Devanagari script

नमस्ये ऽहं पितॄन्विप्रैरर्च्यन्ते भुवि ये सदा / वाञ्छिताभीष्टलाभाय प्राजापत्यप्रदायिनः

Transliteration

namasye 'haṃ pitṝnviprairarcyante bhuvi ye sadā / vāñchitābhīṣṭalābhāya prājāpatyapradāyinaḥ

Translation

I bow to the Pitṛs who are ever worshipped on earth by the vipras, the Brahmin sages; they grant the attainment of desired and cherished aims, and bestow prājāpatya—progeny and prosperity under Prajāpati’s ordinance.

Word by Word

• नमस्ये: I bow
• नमस्ये: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक) + √अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• पितॄन्: the ancestors
• पितॄन्: Karman (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• विप्रैः: by brāhmaṇas
• विप्रैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• अर्च्यन्ते: are worshipped
• अर्च्यन्ते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: लट्, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि (passive)

• भुवि: on earth
• भुवि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• ये: who/whom
• ये: Karman (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

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

• वाञ्छिताभीष्टलाभाय: for obtaining desired gains
• वाञ्छिताभीष्टलाभाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाञ्छित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √वाञ्छ् + क्त) + अभीष्ट (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √इष् अभि + क्त) + लाभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (वाञ्छितं च अभीष्टं च तयोः लाभः; or ‘desired-and-wished gain’); पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थ (for the sake of)

• प्राजापत्यप्रदायिनः: givers of prājāpatya (progeny/creative) blessings
• प्राजापत्यप्रदायिनः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राजापत्य (प्रातिपदिक; प्रजापति-सम्बन्धि) + प्रदायिन् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √दा + णिनि)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (प्राजापत्यं प्रददाति इति); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘पितॄन्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Śrāddha as prescribed by tithi and family custom (not specified)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Pitṛ worship conducted by vipras supports attainment of desired aims and prājāpatya fruit—progeny, prosperity, and lawful continuity of creation/order.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma sustains loka-saṅgraha; honoring Pitṛs aligns the individual with cosmic generativity (Prajāpati principle) and social continuity.

Application: Seek competent guidance for rites; uphold responsibilities that sustain family and community—ethical livelihood, care for dependents, and gratitude to ancestors.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual ground/householder setting with vipra officiants

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana śrāddha sections linking pitṛ-prasāda to progeny and prosperity; Garuda Purana statements on vipra-led rites and their fruits

Characters & Entities

• Pitris
• Vipras
• Prajapati

FAQs

What is the importance of Pitṛs (ancestors) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents the Pitṛs as continually worthy of worship and as benefactors who can grant desired outcomes—especially prosperity and continuity of lineage (prājāpatya).

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

Indirectly, it emphasizes that honoring the Pitṛs through proper rites (as upheld by learned Brahmins) supports the deceased/ancestral order, which is a key pillar of post-death dharmic observances in the Garuda Purana’s framework.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform Shraddha/tarpaṇa with sincerity (as per one’s tradition), respect elders and family lineage duties, and live dharmically so that one’s offerings and intentions align with righteous conduct.