Shloka 7

Devanagari script

ततो ऽसौ प्रणिपत्याह ब्रह्माणं जगतो गतिम् / पितॄणां वचनात्तेन यत्कर्तुमभिवाञ्छितम्

Transliteration

tato 'sau praṇipatyāha brahmāṇaṃ jagato gatim / pitṝṇāṃ vacanāttena yatkartumabhivāñchitam

Translation

Then he bowed down and addressed Brahmā, the guide of the worlds; and, acting on the command of the Pitṛs, he spoke of what he wished to accomplish.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Adhikarana (Context/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनन्तरार्थक (thereupon)

• असौ: that person/he
• असौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• प्रणिपत्य: having prostrated
• प्रणिपत्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्र-नि-√पत् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त/अव्ययीभाव)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (absolutive/gerund): ‘having bowed down’

• आह: said
• आह: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अह्/√ब्रू (धातु; आह = perfect of √अह्/√ब्रू)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ब्रह्माणम्: to Brahmā
• ब्रह्माणम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• जगतः: of the world
• जगतः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• गतिम्: refuge/goal
• गतिम्: Apposition (Samānādhikaraṇa/समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ब्रह्माणम् इति विशेषण-रूपेण (appositional epithet)

• पितॄणाम्: of the forefathers
• पितॄणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• वचनात्: from/according to the instruction
• वचनात्: Apadana (Source/Cause/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/अपादान), एकवचन; हेतौ/निमित्ते (from/according to the word; cause/source)

• तेन: by that/thereby
• तेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; ‘by him/thereby’ (context: by that)

• यत्: what/that which
• यत्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative pronoun)

• कर्तुम्: to do
• कर्तुम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु) + तुमुन् (कृदन्त)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive): ‘to do’

• अभिवाञ्छितम्: desired (thing)
• अभिवाञ्छितम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभि-√वाञ्छ् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; यत् इति विशेष्यं (desired thing)

Speaker

Narrator (contextual voice describing the action before Brahmā)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Acting under Pitṛ-vacana (ancestral injunction) is a dharmic impetus; humility precedes rightful request.

Vedantic Theme: Rina-traya awareness (debts to ancestors/sages/devas) as part of dharmic life; surrender of ego in action.

Application: Honor lineage obligations (care for elders, rites, ethical continuity) while approaching authority with humility and clarity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: extensive Pitṛ and śrāddha teachings elsewhere; narrative linkage between Pitṛ injunction and ritual order

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Pitṛs

FAQs

What is the importance of obeying the Pitṛs in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames the request as arising from the Pitṛs’ instruction, highlighting that ancestral injunction (pitṛ-vacana) is treated as a dharmic authority guiding one’s actions.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by foregrounding the Pitṛs and Brahmā, it signals that post-death and ancestral matters are governed through cosmic authorities and prescribed injunctions rather than personal whim.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Approach sacred duties with humility (praṇipāta) and align major family/ancestral rites with established tradition and qualified guidance rather than impulse.