Shloka 43

Devanagari script

विश्वो विश्वभुगाराध्यो धर्मो धन्यः शुभाननः / भूतिदो भूतिकृद् भूतिः पितॄणां ये गणा नव

Transliteration

viśvo viśvabhugārādhyo dharmo dhanyaḥ śubhānanaḥ / bhūtido bhūtikṛd bhūtiḥ pitṝṇāṃ ye gaṇā nava

Translation

Viśva, Viśvabhuk, the Adorable One, Dharma, the Blessed One, the Auspicious-faced; the Giver of prosperity, the Maker of prosperity, Prosperity itself—these are the nine hosts of the Pitṛs (ancestors).

Word by Word

• विश्वः: Viśva (name)
• विश्वः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; नाम (proper name among pitṛ-gaṇas)

• विश्वभुक्: Viśvabhuk (name; world-sustainer)
• विश्वभुक्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्व (प्रातिपदिक) + भुज् (धातु) → भुक् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः—विश्वं भुङ्क्ते इति (world-enjoyer/sustainer)

• आराध्यः: worthy of worship
• आराध्यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ-राध् (धातु) → आराध्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कृदन्त (ण्यत्), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषणम्—पूजनीयः (to be worshipped)

• धर्मः: Dharma (name)
• धर्मः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; नाम

• धन्यः: fortunate; blessed
• धन्यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (fortunate/auspicious)

• शुभाननः: having an auspicious face
• शुभाननः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक) + आनन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—शुभं आननं यस्य (one with an auspicious face)

• भूतिदः: giver of prosperity
• भूतिदः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भूति (प्रातिपदिक) + द (धातु) → द (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्विप्/ण्वुलादि-प्रत्ययार्थ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः—भूतिं ददाति इति (giver of prosperity)

• भूतिकृत्: maker of prosperity
• भूतिकृत्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भूति (प्रातिपदिक) + कृ (धातु) → कृत् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्विप्), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः—भूतिं करोति इति (maker of prosperity)

• भूतिः: Bhūti (name; prosperity)
• भूतिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; नाम/गुणवाचक

• पितॄणाम्: of the Pitṛs
• पितॄणाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• ये: who
• ये: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध-सर्वनाम (who/which)

• गणाः: groups
• गणाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• नव: nine
• नव: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नवन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; संख्यावाचक-विशेषण (nine)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Nāma-ucchāraṇa (name-recitation) segment within śrāddha to invoke Pitṛ-gaṇas.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Remembering and naming sacred ancestral hosts is itself a meritorious act that invokes prosperity and dharma.

Vedantic Theme: Śabda as sacred vehicle; nāma-smaraṇa aligns mind with auspicious qualities (śubha, dharma, bhūti).

Application: Use structured remembrance (names/qualities) to cultivate gratitude and ethical aspiration—‘become’ what you praise (dharma, bhūti).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual recitation/listing

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana śrāddha sections listing Pitṛ-gaṇas and their names (general parallel)

Characters & Entities

• Pitris

FAQs

What is the importance of the nine Pitṛ-gaṇas in the Garuda Purana?

This verse enumerates nine ancestral hosts (Pitṛ-gaṇas) as revered powers associated with dharma and prosperity, indicating that honoring Pitṛs is linked with welfare and auspiciousness.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By highlighting Pitṛs as organized ‘hosts’ connected to dharma and well-being, the verse situates ancestral realms and ancestral support as part of the post-death religious framework in which rites for Pitṛs aid continuity and auspicious passage.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain dharma and perform respectful ancestor observances (e.g., śrāddha/tarpana as per one’s tradition), cultivating gratitude to lineage and ethical living as the foundation of prosperity and auspiciousness.