Shloka 57

Devanagari script

सोमाधारान्पितृगणान्योगमूर्तिधरांस्तथा / नमस्यामि तथा सोमं पितरं जगतामहम्

Transliteration

somādhārānpitṛgaṇānyogamūrtidharāṃstathā / namasyāmi tathā somaṃ pitaraṃ jagatāmaham

Translation

I bow to the hosts of the Pitṛs sustained by Soma, and likewise to those who bear the form of Yoga. I also bow to Soma, the Father of the worlds.

Word by Word

• सोमाधारान्: Soma-supporting (ones)
• सोमाधारान्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सोम (प्रातिपदिक) + आधार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (सोमस्य आधाराः), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• पितृगणान्: the hosts of Pitṛs
• पितृगणान्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक) + गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (पितॄणां गणाः), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• योगमूर्तिधरान्: bearers of the yogic form
• योगमूर्तिधरान्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग (प्रातिपदिक) + मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + धर (धृ धातु-निष्पन्न, कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (योगमूर्तिं धरन्ति), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयार्थ (also/likewise)

• नमस्यामि: I bow / I salute
• नमस्यामि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नमस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तथा: also
• तथा: Sambandha (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयार्थ (also/likewise)

• सोमम्: Soma
• सोमम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सोम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• पितरम्: the father
• पितरम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• जगताम्: of the worlds
• जगताम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठीविभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in discourse to Garuḍa)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Svarga

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Pitṛpakṣa, amāvāsyā, or prescribed śrāddha days (implied by Pitṛ-Soma doctrine)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Reciprocity between living and ancestors; Soma as the sustaining channel; honoring Pitṛs supports continuity and subtle welfare.

Vedantic Theme: Subtle economy of offerings and merit (adr̥ṣṭa); gratitude and duty (ṛṇa) as purifiers leading toward higher knowledge.

Application: Remember ancestors with gratitude; perform appropriate memorial acts (even simple water/food offering with remembrance) and live in a way that honors lineage through virtue.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: ancestral realm / lunar support

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.89.58 (Pitṛs as Agni-forms; Agni-Soma universe)

Characters & Entities

• Soma
• Pitṛs

FAQs

What is the importance of Soma and the Pitṛs in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

This verse links Pitṛs with Soma—suggesting their sustenance and satisfaction is connected with Soma-like offerings (tarpaṇa/śrāddha), making ancestor reverence a sacred duty.

How does this verse relate to post-death rites like śrāddha?

By saluting the Pitṛs and Soma together, the verse reinforces the ritual theology behind śrāddha and tarpaṇa: offerings dedicated with proper intent nourish and honor the ancestral realm.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain gratitude to ancestors through ethical living and periodic remembrance/offerings (as per one’s tradition), cultivating humility and continuity of dharma across generations.