Shloka 57

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

Devanagari script

सोमाधारान्पितृगणान्योगमूर्तिधरांस्तथा / नमस्यामि तथा सोमं पितरं जगतामहम्

Transliteration

somādhārānpitṛgaṇānyogamūrtidharāṃstathā / namasyāmi tathā somaṃ pitaraṃ jagatāmaham

Translation

Aku bersujud kepada para Pitri yang bersandar pada Soma, dan juga kepada mereka yang memanggul wujud Yoga. Aku pun bersujud kepada Soma, Bapa segala jagat.

Word by Word

• सोमाधारान्: Soma-supporting (ones)
• सोमाधारान्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सोम (प्रातिपदिक) + आधार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (सोमस्य आधाराः), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• पितृगणान्: the hosts of Pitṛs
• पितृगणान्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक) + गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (पितॄणां गणाः), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• योगमूर्तिधरान्: bearers of the yogic form
• योगमूर्तिधरान्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग (प्रातिपदिक) + मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + धर (धृ धातु-निष्पन्न, कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (योगमूर्तिं धरन्ति), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयार्थ (also/likewise)

• नमस्यामि: I bow / I salute
• नमस्यामि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नमस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तथा: also
• तथा: Sambandha (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयार्थ (also/likewise)

• सोमम्: Soma
• सोमम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सोम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• पितरम्: the father
• पितरम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• जगताम्: of the worlds
• जगताम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठीविभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in discourse to Garuḍa)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Svarga

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Pitṛpakṣa, amāvāsyā, or prescribed śrāddha days (implied by Pitṛ-Soma doctrine)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Reciprocity between living and ancestors; Soma as the sustaining channel; honoring Pitṛs supports continuity and subtle welfare.

Vedantic Theme: Subtle economy of offerings and merit (adr̥ṣṭa); gratitude and duty (ṛṇa) as purifiers leading toward higher knowledge.

Application: Remember ancestors with gratitude; perform appropriate memorial acts (even simple water/food offering with remembrance) and live in a way that honors lineage through virtue.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: ancestral realm / lunar support

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.89.58 (Pitṛs as Agni-forms; Agni-Soma universe)

Characters & Entities

• Soma
• Pitṛs

FAQs

What is the importance of Soma and the Pitṛs in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

This verse links Pitṛs with Soma—suggesting their sustenance and satisfaction is connected with Soma-like offerings (tarpaṇa/śrāddha), making ancestor reverence a sacred duty.

How does this verse relate to post-death rites like śrāddha?

By saluting the Pitṛs and Soma together, the verse reinforces the ritual theology behind śrāddha and tarpaṇa: offerings dedicated with proper intent nourish and honor the ancestral realm.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain gratitude to ancestors through ethical living and periodic remembrance/offerings (as per one’s tradition), cultivating humility and continuity of dharma across generations.