Shloka 5

Śrāddha Vidhi: Kāla (Timing), Pātra (Recipient), and Karma (Procedure) for Pitṛ-tarpaṇa and Piṇḍa

Devanagari script

त्रिणाचिकेतदौहित्रशिष्यसम्बन्धिबान्धवाः / कर्मनिष्ठास्तपोनिष्ठाः पञ्चाग्निब्रह्मचारिणः

Transliteration

triṇāciketadauhitraśiṣyasambandhibāndhavāḥ / karmaniṣṭhāstaponiṣṭhāḥ pañcāgnibrahmacāriṇaḥ

Translation

Those connected as relatives and associates—such as performers of the threefold Agnicayana, the Nāciketa fire rite, grandsons, disciples, and kinsmen—who are steadfast in prescribed action and devoted to austerity, and who live as brahmacārins by the discipline of the five fires.

Word by Word

• त्रिणाचिकेताः: performers of the three Nāciketa fires/rites
• त्रिणाचिकेताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + नाचिकेत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; द्विगु-समास (त्रीणि नाचिकेतानि यस्य/त्रिणाचिकेत)

• दौहित्राः: grandsons (daughter’s sons)
• दौहित्राः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दौहित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• शिष्यसम्बन्धिनः: relatives/associates of a disciple
• शिष्यसम्बन्धिनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिष्य (प्रातिपदिक) + सम्बन्धिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (शिष्यस्य सम्बन्धिनः)

• बान्धवाः: kinsmen
• बान्धवाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बान्धव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• कर्मनिष्ठाः: steadfast in ritual action
• कर्मनिष्ठाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + निष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (कर्मणि निष्ठा येषाम्)

• तपोनिष्ठाः: steadfast in austerity
• तपोनिष्ठाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक) + निष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (तपसि निष्ठा येषाम्)

• पञ्चाग्निब्रह्मचारिणः: brahmacārins devoted to the five fires
• पञ्चाग्निब्रह्मचारिणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक) + ब्रह्मचारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (पञ्चाग्नीन् उपासते इति/पञ्चाग्नि-) + तत्पुरुष (ब्रह्मचर्यं चरन्ति)

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (speaking to Garuḍa / Vinatā-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Steadfastness in prescribed karma (karmanīṣṭhā) and tapas (taponīṣṭhā), including rigorous fire disciplines, constitutes exemplary dharmic life and confers ritual authority/worthiness.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-yoga as purification (citta-śuddhi) when aligned with śāstra; tapas as inner heat refining the self toward knowledge.

Application: Cultivate consistent daily discipline (study, restraint, service); if performing rites, do so with accuracy and humility; honor teachers/discipleship bonds and dharmic kinship.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: āśrama/ritual ground

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana śrāddha/pātra discussions that privilege disciplined and learned brāhmaṇas; mentions of tapas and brahmacarya as qualifications (contextual internal parallel)

FAQs

What is the importance of karma-niṣṭhā and tapaḥ-niṣṭhā in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights two complementary pillars of dharma—steadfast performance of prescribed duties (karma-niṣṭhā) and dedication to austerity (tapaḥ-niṣṭhā)—as defining traits of highly disciplined, merit-bearing practitioners.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By emphasizing disciplined ritual action, austerity, and brahmacarya, the verse points to merit-accruing conduct that supports a spiritually favorable trajectory for the individual, aligning life with dharma rather than adharma.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain consistency in ethical duties (service, truthfulness, daily discipline) while adopting measured austerities (self-restraint, simplicity, study), treating spiritual practice as steady conduct rather than occasional intensity.