Shloka 61

Āhnika-Dharma: Dawn Purification, Sandhyā-Upāsanā, Tarpana, Pañca-Mahāyajñas, and Aśauca Rules

Devanagari script

देवर्षोंस्तर्पयेद्धीमानुदकाञ्जलिभिः पितॄत् / यज्ञोपवीती देवानां निवीती ऋषितर्पणे

Transliteration

devarṣoṃstarpayeddhīmānudakāñjalibhiḥ pitṝt / yajñopavītī devānāṃ nivītī ṛṣitarpaṇe

Translation

ബുദ്ധിമാൻ ജലാഞ്ജലികളാൽ പിതൃകളെ തർപ്പണം ചെയ്യണം. ദേവതർപ്പണത്തിൽ യജ്ഞോപവീതം ഉപവീതമായി ധരിക്കണം; ഋഷിതർപ്പണത്തിൽ നിവീതമായി ധരിക്കണം.

Word by Word

• देवर्षीन्: divine sages
• देवर्षीन्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), बहुवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (देवानां ऋषयः)

• तर्पयेत्: should satisfy/offer libations to
• तर्पयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तृप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• धीमान्: the wise man
• धीमान्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धीमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• उदकाञ्जलिभिः: with handfuls of water
• उदकाञ्जलिभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उदक (प्रातिपदिक) + अञ्जलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (उदकस्य अञ्जलयः)

• पितॄन्: the ancestors
• पितॄन्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), बहुवचन

• यज्ञोपवीती: wearing the sacred thread in upavīta manner
• यज्ञोपवीती: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक) + उपवीतिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्; समासः तत्पुरुष (यज्ञोपवीतं यस्य/यज्ञोपवीतधारी)

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

• निवीती: wearing the thread in nivīta manner
• निवीती: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निवीतिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (निवीत-धारण-स्थितिः)

• ऋषितर्पणे: in the rite of offering to sages
• ऋषितर्पणे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक) + तर्पण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (ऋषीणां तर्पणम्)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: During daily/periodic tarpaṇa within śrāddha-related observance (tithi-based as applicable)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Adhikāra-bheda in ritual: the same act (offering water) changes efficacy by correct niyama (thread position) and intended recipient.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-kāṇḍa as purificatory discipline (citta-śuddhi) preparing for higher knowledge; intentionality (saṅkalpa) governs fruit.

Application: During tarpaṇa: offer water with cupped palms; keep yajnopavīta in upavīta for Deva-tarpaṇa and nivīta for Ṛṣi-tarpaṇa, maintaining mental address and mantra.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual-space (gṛha/śrāddha-sthāna or tīrtha implied)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa/Śrāddha sections on tarpaṇa and yajnopavīta-vidhi (contextual continuity around 1.50)

Characters & Entities

• Pitris
• Devas
• Rishis
• Yajnopavita (sacred thread)

FAQs

What is the importance of tarpaṇa in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents tarpaṇa as a dharmic act of satisfaction/propitiation—performed with water offerings—especially directed to the Pitṛs, and done with proper ritual discipline (including the correct yajñopavīta arrangement).

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By emphasizing Pitṛ-tarpaṇa, the verse links orderly ancestral rites with dharma surrounding death-related observances, which the Garuda Purana treats as supportive of proper post-death transitions and familial obligations toward the departed.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform tarpaṇa/śrāddha with care for procedure and intent—offer water respectfully and follow the tradition’s distinctions (Deva vs. Ṛṣi offerings), treating ancestral rites as a disciplined practice of gratitude and duty.