Shloka 5

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

Devanagari script

ततो वर्षशतं दिव्यं तपस्तेपे महामनाः / तत्र स्थितश्चिरं कालं वनेषु नियमस्थितः / आराधनाय स तदा परं नियममास्थितः

Transliteration

tato varṣaśataṃ divyaṃ tapastepe mahāmanāḥ / tatra sthitaściraṃ kālaṃ vaneṣu niyamasthitaḥ / ārādhanāya sa tadā paraṃ niyamamāsthitaḥ

Translation

ついでその大心の者は、天の百年にわたり苦行を修した。森に久しくとどまり、戒とニヤマに堅住し、礼拝のためにその時、最上の克己の規範を受持した。

Word by Word

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana (Context/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; काल/अनन्तरार्थक (temporal adverb: thereafter)

• वर्षशतम्: a hundred years
• वर्षशतम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (शतं वर्षाणि = a hundred years)

• दिव्यम्: divine
• दिव्यम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; वर्षशतम् इति विशेषणम्

• तपः: austerity
• तपः: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; कर्मरूपेण

• तेपे: performed (austerity)
• तेपे: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √तप् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• महामनाः: great-minded
• महामनाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (महान् मनः यस्य सः)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशार्थक (locative adverb: there)

• स्थितः: staying/remaining
• स्थितः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोगे विशेषणम्

• चिरम्: for a long time
• चिरम्: Kala (Time/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चिरम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of time: for long)

• कालम्: time
• कालम्: Kala (Time/काल)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; कालपरिमाणे (extent of time)

• वनेषु: in forests
• वनेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), बहुवचन

• नियमस्थितः: abiding in discipline
• नियमस्थितः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नियम (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थित (√स्था + क्त, कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (नियमे स्थितः)

• आराधनाय: for worship/propitiation
• आराधनाय: Sampradana (Purpose/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आराधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थे (dative of purpose)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• तदा: at that time
• तदा: Kala (Time/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (then, at that time)

• परम्: supreme/greater
• परम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; नियमम् इति विशेषणम्

• नियमम्: discipline/vow
• नियमम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नियम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आस्थितः: having undertaken/observing
• आस्थितः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ-√स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (आ-स्था = to undertake/abide by)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra in the Garuda Purana dialogue frame)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Long, regulated tapas (niyama) generates spiritual potency and eligibility for divine response.

Vedantic Theme: Sadhana-chatushtaya support: dama/niyama and titiksha (forbearance) as preparatory virtues; karma-yoga through disciplined observance.

Application: Commit to a time-bound vow (e.g., a vrata/discipline cycle) with clear rules; cultivate consistency over intensity spikes.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: forest/ashrama

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: recurring motif of niyama and vrata as means to obtain siddhi/boons; later dharma sections praising restraint

FAQs

What is the importance of tapas (austerity) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents tapas, sustained over a long duration, as a core means of inner purification and spiritual power, undertaken specifically to make worship effective and transformative.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By emphasizing niyama (disciplined restraint) and prolonged tapas, the verse points to self-mastery as the foundation for higher realization—suggesting that liberation-oriented progress begins with regulated conduct and sincere worship.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Adopt consistent daily disciplines—truthfulness, moderation, devotional practice, and periodic vows (like fasting or japa)—so worship is supported by conduct, not just intention.