Shloka 29

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

Devanagari script

पितॄन्नमस्ये दिवि ये च मूर्ताः स्वधाभुजः काम्यफलाभिसन्धौ / प्रदानशक्ताः सकलेप्सितानां विमुक्तिदा ये ऽनभिसंहितेषु

Transliteration

pitṝnnamasye divi ye ca mūrtāḥ svadhābhujaḥ kāmyaphalābhisandhau / pradānaśaktāḥ sakalepsitānāṃ vimuktidā ye 'nabhisaṃhiteṣu

Translation

I bow to the Pitṛs (ancestors) who are embodied in the heavenly realm, partakers of the svadhā offerings; when desired fruits are sought, they have the power to grant every wished-for attainment, and when no particular desire is intended, they bestow liberation itself.

Word by Word

• पितॄन्: the ancestors (pitṛs)
• पितॄन्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), बहुवचन; Accusative Plural Masculine

• नमस्ये: I bow to / I salute
• नमस्ये: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नमस् (धातु: नम्)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; Present Indicative 1st sg

• दिवि: in heaven
• दिवि: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिव् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Locative Singular Feminine

• ये: who
• ये: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Relative pronoun, Nominative Plural Masculine

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• मूर्ताः: embodied / manifest
• मूर्ताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मूर्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; धातु: मूर्छ्/मूर्त-भाव)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Past participial adjective, Nominative Plural Masculine

• स्वधाभुजः: eaters of svadhā (ancestral oblation)
• स्वधाभुजः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वधा (प्रातिपदिक) + भुज् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (स्वधायाः भुजः)

• काम्यफलाभिसन्धौ: in the intention for desired fruits
• काम्यफलाभिसन्धौ: Adhikarana (Context/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम्य (प्रातिपदिक) + फल (प्रातिपदिक) + अभिसन्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Locative Singular; तत्पुरुष (काम्यफलस्य अभिसन्धौ)

• प्रदानशक्ताः: capable of granting
• प्रदानशक्ताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रदान (प्रातिपदिक) + शक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; धातु: शक्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Nominative Plural; तत्पुरुष (प्रदाने शक्ताः)

• सकल: all, entire
• सकल: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सकल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग-प्रातिपदिक; समासपूर्वपद (indeclinable as compound member)

• ईप्सितानाम्: of desired (things)
• ईप्सितानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईप्सित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; धातु: आप्/ईप्स्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Genitive Plural Neuter (of desired things)

• सकलेप्सितानाम्: of all desired (things)
• सकलेप्सितानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सकल + ईप्सित (प्रातिपदिक + कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Genitive Plural; कर्मधारय (सकलानि ईप्सितानि)

• विमुक्तिदाः: givers of liberation
• विमुक्तिदाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विमुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + दा (धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Nominative Plural; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (विमुक्तिं ददाति)

• ये: who
• ये: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Relative pronoun, Nominative Plural Masculine

• अनभिसंहितेषु: in (cases) not intended / not prescribed
• अनभिसंहितेषु: Adhikarana (Context/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन- (उपसर्ग/निषेध) + अभिसंहित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; धातु: धा/सम्-धा/संह्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Locative Plural Neuter (in un-intended/non-enjoined matters)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda; typical dialogue frame of the Garuda Purana)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Śrāddha context (tithi-based; commonly amāvasyā/parva or prescribed ancestral tithi)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Pitṛs grant desired fruits when intention exists, and can become instruments for liberation when offerings are made without craving (anabhisaṃhita).

Vedantic Theme: Niṣkāma-karma leading toward mokṣa; fruits differ by saṅkalpa, while desirelessness purifies and opens the way to release.

Application: Perform śrāddha/ancestral acts with clear intention for worldly aims, or with niṣkāma-bhāva for inner purification; cultivate offering without bargaining.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: celestial realm

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa/Śrāddha-khaṇḍa themes: svadhā, pitṛ-tarpaṇa, niṣkāma-śrāddha leading to higher good

Characters & Entities

• Pitṛs

FAQs

What is the importance of Pitṛs and svadhā offerings in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents the Pitṛs as celestial recipients of svadhā who actively confer results—worldly boons when rites are desire-driven, and liberation when performed without specific craving.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in relation to ancestral rites?

It implies that intention (kāmya vs. niṣkāma) shapes outcomes: desire-bound ritual supports worldly attainments, while selfless ancestral reverence aligns one toward vimukti (release), a key spiritual trajectory emphasized in Purāṇic dharma.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform śrāddha/tarpaṇa with sincerity and reduced bargaining mentality—honor lineage and duty; let the act be devotional, which the text links not only to blessings but also to inner freedom.