Shloka 24

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

Devanagari script

नमस्ये ऽहं पितॄञ्छ्राद्धे पाताले ये महासुरैः / सन्तर्प्यन्ते सुधाहारास्त्यक्तदम्भमदैः सदा

Transliteration

namasye 'haṃ pitṝñchrāddhe pātāle ye mahāsuraiḥ / santarpyante sudhāhārāstyaktadambhamadaiḥ sadā

Translation

Aku bersujud hormat kepada para Pitṛ—yang pada waktu śrāddha dipuaskan di Pātāla oleh para Asura agung; mereka senantiasa menikmati santapan laksana amṛta, setelah meninggalkan kesombongan dan keangkuhan.

Word by Word

• नमस्ये: I bow / I salute
• नमस्ये: Kriyā (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नमस् (धातु: नम्)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन (Singular), आत्मनेपद; √नम् (to bow) + स्य (नमस्यति)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (Pronoun), पुंलिङ्ग/स्त्रीलिङ्ग (common), प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन (Singular)

• पितॄन्: the ancestors (pitṛs)
• पितॄन्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (2nd case), बहुवचन (Plural)

• श्राद्धे: in the śrāddha rite
• श्राद्धे: Adhikaraṇa (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन (Singular)

• पाताले: in Pātāla (netherworld)
• पाताले: Adhikaraṇa (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाताल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन (Singular)

• ये: who
• ये: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (Relative pronoun), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन (Plural)

• महासुरैः: by great asuras
• महासुरैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महासुर (प्रातिपदिक: महा + असुर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया (3rd case), बहुवचन (Plural)

• सन्तर्प्यन्ते: are satisfied / are fed
• सन्तर्प्यन्ते: Kriyā (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सन्तर्पय् (धातु: तृप्/तर्प् causative)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural), आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि प्रयोग (Passive)

• सुधाहाराः: those whose food is nectar
• सुधाहाराः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुधा-आहार (प्रातिपदिक: सुधा + आहार)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन (Plural)

• त्यक्तदम्भमदैः: with pride and hypocrisy abandoned
• त्यक्तदम्भमदैः: Hetu/Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्यक्त-दम्भ-मद (प्रातिपदिक: त्यक्त (√त्यज्) + दम्भ + मद)
• Form: बहुव्रीह्यर्थे विशेषणवत्; तृतीया (3rd case), बहुवचन (Plural); (with) pride and arrogance abandoned

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (adverb of time)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: During śrāddha (general; applicable to parva/annual observances)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śrāddha performed without dambha/mada (hypocrisy/pride) truly satisfies the Pitṛs; inner disposition is integral to ritual efficacy.

Vedantic Theme: Antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi (purification of mind) as the condition for fruit-bearing karma; humility dissolves ahaṅkāra that obstructs grace.

Application: Perform śrāddha/tarpaṇa with sincerity, simplicity, and restraint; avoid display, rivalry, or pride in giving.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: netherworld region

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa/Śrāddha-khaṇḍa passages on tarpaṇa and Pitṛ-loka reach of offerings; Garuda Purana sections praising śraddhā and condemning dambha in rites

Characters & Entities

• Pitris
• Shraddha
• Patala
• Asuras

FAQs

What is the importance of śrāddha for the Pitṛs in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights that śrāddha is a direct means by which the Pitṛs become ‘satisfied’ (santarpyante), emphasizing ancestor propitiation as a dharmic duty with real efficacy.

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

While not describing the soul’s journey step-by-step, it situates post-death welfare within ritual causality: offerings and remembrance through śrāddha support the ancestral realm (Pitṛ-loka/related regions such as Pātāla as named here).

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform śrāddha/ancestor rites with sincerity and humility—free from show (dambha) and ego (mada)—treating remembrance, gratitude, and disciplined ritual as part of daily dharma.