Shloka 28

Devanagari script

त्रिर् अपः प्रीणनार्थाय देवानाम् अपवर्जयेत् तथर्षीणां यथान्यायं सकृच् चापि प्रजापतेः

Transliteration

trir apaḥ prīṇanārthāya devānām apavarjayet tatharṣīṇāṃ yathānyāyaṃ sakṛc cāpi prajāpateḥ

Translation

For the satisfaction of the gods, one should offer water three times; for the Ṛṣis likewise, according to the prescribed rule; and once also for Prajāpati—thus the rite is duly performed in harmony with dharma.

Word by Word

• त्रिः: thrice
• त्रिः: Avyaya (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: त्रिः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb of frequency)

• अपः: waters (libations)
• अपः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (अप्-शब्दः), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• प्रीणन-अर्थाय: for the purpose of pleasing
• प्रीणन-अर्थाय: Sampradana (Purpose/Dative/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रीणन (प्रातिपदिक; प्रीण् धातोः भाव/क्रिया-नाम) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (प्रीणनस्य अर्थः)

• देवानाम्: of the gods
• देवानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• अपवर्जयेत्: should offer/dispense (libations)
• अपवर्जयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अप-√वृज्/वर्ज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Avyaya (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: in like manner)

• ऋषीणाम्: of the sages
• ऋषीणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• यथा-न्यायम्: according to proper rule
• यथा-न्यायम्: Avyaya (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + न्याय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्यय (adverb: according to rule)

• सकृत्: once
• सकृत्: Avyaya (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सकृत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb of frequency)

• च: and
• च: Avyaya (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Avyaya (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle: also/even)

• प्रजापतेः: of Prajāpati
• प्रजापतेः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजापति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (in instruction to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Numerical and procedural rules for tarpaṇa to devas, ṛṣis, and Prajāpati

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Tarpaṇa must follow śāstric measure—three offerings for devas, prescribed offerings for ṛṣis, and one for Prajāpati—so that the rite aligns with dharma.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: When performing inherited practices (ancestral rites, daily observances), value correctness and intention; consult authentic tradition rather than improvisation.

Vishishtadvaita: Ritual order mirrors cosmic order under the Lord; disciplined action becomes a mode of service (kainkarya) within His governance.

Vaishnava Theology

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Rishis (Ṛṣis)
• Prajapati (Prajāpati)

FAQs

What is the significance of offering water (tarpana) to the Devas, Ṛṣis, and Prajāpati in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse frames tarpana as a dharmic act that sustains cosmic reciprocity—honoring divine powers, the seer-tradition, and the progenitive principle (Prajāpati) through prescribed offerings.

How does Sage Parāśara explain proper procedure in this rite?

He specifies regulated counts and recipients: water is offered three times to the Devas, appropriately to the Ṛṣis according to rule, and once to Prajāpati—emphasizing disciplined conformity to śāstra.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this ritual context?

Even when Vishnu is not named, the Purana’s dharma-teaching assumes a Vishnu-centered order: rites uphold the divinely governed cosmos, where all functions (Devas, Ṛṣis, creation) operate under the Supreme Reality’s sovereignty.