Shloka 2

Śrāddha’s Cosmic Reach and Kāla-Nirṇaya (Sacred Timings): Amāvāsyā, Nakṣatra-Yoga, Tīrtha, and Minimum Offerings

Devanagari script

सरीसृपान् पितृगणान् यच् चान्यद् भूतसंज्ञितम् श्राद्धं श्रद्धान्वितः कुर्वन् तर्पयत्य् अखिलं जगत्

Transliteration

sarīsṛpān pitṛgaṇān yac cānyad bhūtasaṃjñitam śrāddhaṃ śraddhānvitaḥ kurvan tarpayaty akhilaṃ jagat

Translation

Performing the śrāddha with faith, one satisfies the creeping beings, the hosts of the Pitṛs, and whatever else is reckoned among living creatures; indeed, by that act he brings contentment to the entire world.

Word by Word

• सरीसृपान्: reptiles/creeping beings
• सरीसृपान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सरीसृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• पितृ-गणान्: groups of ancestors (pitṛs)
• पितृ-गणान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक) + गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (पितॄणां गणाः); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• यत्: whatever
• यत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (relative: whatever)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-निपात (and)

• अन्यत्: other (anything else)
• अन्यत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• भूत-संज्ञितम्: designated as living beings
• भूत-संज्ञितम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक) + संज्ञित (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (भूत-संज्ञित = designated as beings); क्त-कृदन्त (past passive participle from √ज्ञा with सम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying यत्/अन्यत्)

• श्राद्धम्: śrāddha rite
• श्राद्धम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• श्रद्धा-अन्वितः: endowed with faith
• श्रद्धा-अन्वितः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रद्धा (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्वित (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (श्रद्धया अन्वितः = endowed with faith); क्त-कृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृ-विशेषणम्

• कुर्वन्: doing/performing
• कुर्वन्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय (वर्तमान कृदन्त/active present participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषण-भावे (while doing)

• तर्पयति: satisfies/propitiates
• तर्पयति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तृप्/तर्प् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• अखिलम्: entire
• अखिलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अखिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (जगत् इत्यस्य)

• जगत्: world
• जगत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (in instruction to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Fruit of śrāddha performed with śraddhā: universal satisfaction of pitṛs and all beings

Teaching: Devotional

Quality: encouraging

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: When śrāddha is performed with faith, it becomes a universally nourishing act that gratifies pitṛs and extends benefit across all classes of creatures.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Make remembrance and charity sincere: pair ritual (or memorial giving) with compassion toward all life, turning private duty into broad welfare.

Vishishtadvaita: The act’s ‘universal reach’ coheres with Viśiṣṭādvaita’s organic unity: all beings are included in the Lord’s body, so offerings made in right spirit participate in the whole.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Pitṛs (ancestors)
• Bhūtas (living beings/creatures)
• Sarīsṛpas (creeping creatures)

FAQs

What is the significance of śrāddha in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse presents śrāddha as a world-sustaining act: when done with faith, it satisfies not only ancestors but all categories of beings, linking personal duty to universal harmony.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the scope of tarpaṇa (satisfaction) through śrāddha?

Parāśara broadens tarpaṇa beyond the Pitṛs to include creeping creatures and all beings termed bhūtas, implying that ritual dharma radiates benefit across the entire living cosmos.

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

Though Vishnu is not named in the verse, the Purāṇic framework treats dharma-acts like śrāddha as participation in Vishnu’s cosmic sovereignty—maintaining order by aligning human conduct with the universe’s sustaining principle.