Shloka 68

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

Devanagari script

तस्यापि बहवः पुत्रा महाबलपराक्रमाः / भविष्यन्ति महात्मानः पृथिवीपरिपालकाः

Transliteration

tasyāpi bahavaḥ putrā mahābalaparākramāḥ / bhaviṣyanti mahātmānaḥ pṛthivīparipālakāḥ

Translation

He too will have many sons—mighty and heroic—who will become great-souled guardians and rulers of the earth.

Word by Word

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Shashthi-Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चय/also)

• बहवः: many
• बहवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bahu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; (पुत्राः) इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• पुत्राः: sons
• पुत्राः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• महाबलपराक्रमाः: of great strength and valor
• महाबलपराक्रमाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā + bala + parākrama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कर्मधारय/बहुपद: महत् बलं च पराक्रमश्च येषाम्/महाबल-पराक्रम); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; (पुत्राः) इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• भविष्यन्ति: will be
• भविष्यन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (भू)
• Form: लृट् (भविष्यत्/Future), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• महात्मानः: great-souled
• महात्मानः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (महान् आत्मा यस्य); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; (पुत्राः) इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• पृथिवीपरिपालकाः: protectors of the earth
• पृथिवीपरिपालकाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pṛthivī + paripālaka (प्रातिपदिक; √pāl (पाल्) + pari, ण्वुल्)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: पृथिव्याः परिपालकाः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; कृदन्त (agent noun)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Kṣatra-like protection: strong, virtuous descendants uphold social order by guarding the earth; power is sanctified when aligned with dharma.

Vedantic Theme: Lokasaṅgraha (maintenance of world-order) through righteous action; strength as an instrument, not an end.

Application: Use strength/resources to protect the vulnerable; cultivate courage with ethics; view governance/management as stewardship.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: continent/realm of rule

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: dharma of rulers and protection of subjects (thematic linkage)

FAQs

What is the importance of righteous progeny in the Garuda Purana?

This verse values lineage that produces strong, noble sons who uphold dharma by protecting and governing the earth responsibly.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly address the soul’s post-death journey; instead, it emphasizes dharmic life on earth through noble rulership and protection of society.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate strength with virtue—use power for protection, public welfare, and ethical leadership rather than domination.