Shloka 59

Āśauca, Daśāha Piṇḍa-Rites, Vṛṣotsarga, Sāpiṇḍīkaraṇa, and the Yama-mārga

Path to Yama

Devanagari script

ततः पितृत्वमापन्ने तस्मिन्प्रेते खगेश्वर / श्राद्धधर्मैरशेषैस्तु तत्पूर्वानर्चयेत्पितॄन्

Transliteration

tataḥ pitṛtvamāpanne tasminprete khageśvara / śrāddhadharmairaśeṣaistu tatpūrvānarcayetpitṝn

Translation

Then, O lord of birds (Garuda), when that departed one attains the status of an ancestor (Pitṛ), one should, through all the prescribed rites of śrāddha without omission, worship and honor the Pitṛs who preceded him.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रमवाचक (thereafter)

• पितृत्वम्: the state of being a Pitṛ (ancestorhood)
• पितृत्वम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• आपन्ने: when (it is) attained
• आपन्ने: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आपन्न (आप् धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय; कृदन्त)
• Form: सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त; ‘प्राप्ते/attained’

• तस्मिन्: in that
• तस्मिन्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• प्रेते: in the preta (when he is the preta)
• प्रेते: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• खगेश्वर: O lord of birds (Garuda)
• खगेश्वर: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खग + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (खगानाम् ईश्वरः)

• श्राद्धधर्मैः: by the rites/duties of śrāddha
• श्राद्धधर्मैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध + धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (श्राद्धस्य धर्माः)

• अशेषैः: complete; without remainder
• अशेषैः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अशेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• तु: indeed; however
• तु: Discourse particle (Nipata/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विशेषार्थक निपात (particle: but/indeed)

• तत्पूर्वान्: his forefathers
• तत्पूर्वान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् + पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (तस्य पूर्वान् = his predecessors)

• अर्चयेत्: should worship/offer to
• अर्चयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• पितॄन्: the Pitṛs (ancestors)
• पितॄन्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: After the departed has attained pitṛ-status (post-sapīṇḍī), continuing in regular śrāddha cycles (parvaṇa/annual/occasional).

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Once pitṛ-status is attained, one must perform the complete śrāddha-dharma to honor all preceding pitṛs, not isolating the newly departed alone.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as gratitude and continuity (pitṛ-ṛṇa); yajña-spirit of offering that purifies the doer and sustains relational order.

Application: After sapīṇḍī, perform śrāddhas according to full prescription (parvaṇa/annual/occasional as applicable), including the line of ancestors (tad-pūrvān) without omission.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Geographic Context

Type: ritual space / family shrine area

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa 2.5 (post-sapīṇḍī śrāddha obligations)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda (Khageshvara)
• Pitris
• Preta

FAQs

What is the importance of Shraddha rites in Garuda Purana?

This verse states that once the departed attains Pitṛ-status, performing the full set of śrāddha duties is the proper dharma to honor and support the ancestral line.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

It implies a transition from being a preta (departed) to being counted among the Pitṛs, after which ancestral offerings and worship are directed to the lineage of forefathers.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain regular śrāddha/tarpaṇa observances with sincerity and completeness, treating them as duties of gratitude toward one’s ancestors and family tradition.