Shloka 79

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

Devanagari script

वसन्ते षोडश समास्तृप्तये श्राद्धकर्मणि / ग्रीष्मे च षोडशैवैतत्पठितं तृप्तिकारकम्

Transliteration

vasante ṣoḍaśa samāstṛptaye śrāddhakarmaṇi / grīṣme ca ṣoḍaśaivaitatpaṭhitaṃ tṛptikārakam

Translation

In spring, within the Śrāddha rite, sixteen recitations are ordained to bring satisfaction to the Pitṛs (ancestors); and in summer as well, this very text, when recited sixteen times, becomes a cause of their contentment.

Word by Word

• वसन्ते: in spring
• वसन्ते: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन; कालवाचक-सप्तमी (locative of time)

• षोडश: sixteen
• षोडश: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षोडश (संख्याशब्द-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्याविशेषण; (सामान्यतः) बहुवचनार्थे/गणनार्थे; रूपं अविकारी

• समाः: years
• समाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• तृप्तये: for satisfaction
• तृप्तये: Sampradana (Recipient/Purpose/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तृप्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (4th/Dative), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थे (for the purpose)

• श्राद्धकर्मणि: in the śrāddha rite
• श्राद्धकर्मणि: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध + कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (श्राद्धस्य कर्म)

• ग्रीष्मे: in summer
• ग्रीष्मे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्रीष्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन; कालवाचक-सप्तमी

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

• षोडश: sixteen
• षोडश: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षोडश (संख्याशब्द-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्याविशेषण; रूपं अविकारी

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• एतत्: this (hymn/thing)
• एतत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• पठितम्: recited/read
• पठितम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पठ् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘पठितम्’ = read/recited

• तृप्तिकारकम्: causing satisfaction
• तृप्तिकारकम्: Visheshana (Predicate adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तृप्ति + कारक (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (तृप्तिं करोति इति)

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa/Vinatā-putra, within Śrāddha-vidhi context)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Vasanta and Grīṣma seasons; recitation count: sixteen.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Mantra/recitation-count (saṅkhyā) and seasonal propriety enhance pitṛ-tṛpti (ancestral satisfaction).

Vedantic Theme: Ṛta (cosmic order) expressed as dharma; efficacy of śabda (sacred sound) in sustaining subtle beings.

Application: During Śrāddha in vasanta and grīṣma, recite the prescribed text sixteen times to support pitṛ satisfaction.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: Śrāddha-vidhi sections on pitṛ-tṛpti via stotra/pāṭha; Garuda Purana: seasonal/ṛtu-based ritual prescriptions in Śrāddha context

Characters & Entities

• Pitṛs
• Śrāddha

FAQs

What is the importance of seasonal recitation counts in the Garuda Purana’s Śrāddha rules?

This verse specifies a fixed count—sixteen recitations—in spring and summer, indicating that disciplined, prescribed repetition is considered directly efficacious for pitṛ-tṛpti (satisfaction of the ancestors) within Śrāddha.

How does this verse connect Śrāddha practice to the well-being of the departed?

By stating that the prescribed recitation itself is “tṛpti-kāraka” (a cause of satisfaction), the verse frames correct performance—especially proper paṭha with the right count—as a means to support and appease the departed/ancestors.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If performing Śrāddha, follow a consistent, traditional count and method of recitation rather than improvising—treating the rite as disciplined dharma aimed at remembrance, gratitude, and continuity of ancestral duties.