Shloka 26

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

Devanagari script

नमस्ये ऽहं पितॄञ्छ्राद्धैः सर्पैः सन्तर्पितान्सदा / तत्रैव विधिवन्मन्त्रभोगसम्पत्समन्वितैः

Transliteration

namasye 'haṃ pitṝñchrāddhaiḥ sarpaiḥ santarpitānsadā / tatraiva vidhivanmantrabhogasampatsamanvitaiḥ

Translation

I bow to the Pitṛs, who are ever satisfied by śrāddha offerings and by the nourishing rites connected with serpents; in that very rite they are duly endowed with mantras, oblations for enjoyment, and the requisite ritual provisions.

Word by Word

• नमस्ये: I bow
• नमस्ये: Kriyā (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नमस् (धातु: नम्)
• Form: लट्, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

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

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

• श्राद्धैः: by śrāddha rites
• श्राद्धैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• सर्पैः: by serpents
• सर्पैः: Karta (Agent in passive/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• सन्तर्पितान्: satisfied/fed
• सन्तर्पितान्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सन्तर्पित (कृदन्त; धातु: तृप्/तर्प् causative सन्तर्पय्)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying पितॄन्)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (adverb of place)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha/Emphasis
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle of emphasis)

• विधिवत्: according to rule
• विधिवत्: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विधिवत् (अव्यय)
• Form: रीतिवाचक अव्यय

• मन्त्रभोगसम्पत्समन्वितैः: endowed with mantras, enjoyments, and prosperity
• मन्त्रभोगसम्पत्समन्वितैः: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मन्त्र-भोग-सम्पत्-समन्वित (प्रातिपदिक: मन्त्र + भोग + सम्पत् + समन्वित)
• Form: समन्वित (भूतकृदन्त; √अन्वि/अन्वय्), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying सर्पैः)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: During śrāddha; emphasis on saṃbhāra/mantra completeness

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual efficacy depends on mantra, prescribed offerings (bhoga), and proper saṃbhāra (requisite materials); sustained tarpaṇa brings continual satisfaction.

Vedantic Theme: Śabda (mantra) as a carrier of intention; disciplined karma aligned with śāstra yields predictable phala.

Application: Prepare śrāddha materials carefully; recite mantras correctly; ensure offerings and arrangements are complete and respectful.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: netherworld region

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana lists of śrāddha saṃbhāra (materials) and mantra usage; Garuda Purana nāga/sarpa appeasement rites and their linkage to ancestral welfare

Characters & Entities

• Pitris
• Sarpas (Nagas)

FAQs

What is the importance of śrāddha for Pitṛs in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that Pitṛs are continually “satisfied” (santarpitāḥ) through properly performed śrāddha, emphasizing it as a key dharmic duty toward ancestors.

How does this verse explain the effectiveness of ritual offerings?

It links effectiveness to vidhivat performance—mantras, appropriate offerings for enjoyment (bhoga), and complete ritual requisites (sampat) together make the rite spiritually efficacious for the Pitṛs.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform ancestral rites with sincerity and correctness—recite prescribed mantras, offer suitable food/water (tarpana), and follow established procedure rather than treating śrāddha as a mere formality.