Shloka 34

Gayā-kṣetra and Phalgu Tīrtha: Sites, Rites, and the Liberation of the Pitṛs

Devanagari script

तर्पयित्वा पितॄन्देवान्न विशेद्योनिसङ्कटे / तर्पणे काकजङ्घार्या पितॄणां तृप्तिरक्षया

Transliteration

tarpayitvā pitṝndevānna viśedyonisaṅkaṭe / tarpaṇe kākajaṅghāryā pitṝṇāṃ tṛptirakṣayā

Translation

തർപ്പണത്തിലൂടെ പിതൃകളെയും ദേവന്മാരെയും തൃപ്തിപ്പെടുത്തിയാൽ മനുഷ്യൻ യോനിസങ്കടത്തിൽ (പുനർജന്മഭീതിയിൽ) വീഴുകയില്ല. തർപ്പണത്തിൽ ‘കാകജങ്ഘാ’ അളവോളം ചെറുതായ അർപ്പണവും പിതൃകൾക്ക് അക്ഷയ തൃപ്തി നൽകുന്നു।

Word by Word

• तर्पयित्वा: having satisfied (offered tarpaṇa to)
• तर्पयित्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √तृप् (धातु) + णिच् (causative) → तर्पय् + त्वा (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्तम् (gerund/absolutive): 'having satisfied'

• पितॄन्: the ancestors
• पितॄन्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• देवान्: the gods
• देवान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्ययम् (negation)

• विशेत्: should enter/fall into
• विशेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + √विश् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्

• योनि-सङ्कटे: in the peril of (re)birth
• योनि-सङ्कटे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योनि + सङ्कट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः (योन्याः सङ्कटम्/योनिसम्बन्धि सङ्कटम्)

• तर्पणे: in/through tarpaṇa (rite)
• तर्पणे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तर्पण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• काकजङ्घार्या: by (the rite/place called) Kākajaṅghāryā
• काकजङ्घार्या: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काक + जङ्घा + अर्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुष-समासः (काकस्य जङ्घा इव अर्या/नामविशेषः); करणत्वेन (instrumental: 'by/with')

• पितॄणाम्: of the ancestors
• पितॄणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• तृप्तिः: satisfaction
• तृप्तिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तृप्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• अक्षया: imperishable, inexhaustible
• अक्षया: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अक्षय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (agreeing with तृप्तिः)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Moksha

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Tarpaṇa to Pitṛs and Devas removes the peril of re-entering the womb (saṃsāra); even minimal offering, when properly done, yields inexhaustible satisfaction to Pitṛs.

Vedantic Theme: Saṃsāra-bandha and its mitigation through dharmic rites; śraddhā and correctness (vidhi) magnify small acts; gradual purification supporting liberation-oriented life.

Application: Perform tarpaṇa regularly with correct mantra, intention, and purity; do not neglect offerings due to scarcity—small but sincere offerings are efficacious.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: tarpaṇa praised as essential for Pitṛ satisfaction and for the living person’s welfare; Garuda Purana: teachings linking Pitṛ rites with reduction of saṃsāric suffering

Characters & Entities

• Pitṛs
• Devas

FAQs

What is the importance of tarpaṇa in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that tarpaṇa—satisfying the Pitṛs and Devas—protects one from yoni-saṅkaṭa (the peril of entering the womb again), highlighting tarpaṇa as a dharmic act with spiritual consequences beyond mere ritual.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By linking ancestor-and-deity propitiation to avoiding yoni-saṅkaṭa, the verse frames rebirth as influenced by dharmic duties: fulfilling Pitṛ-kṛtya supports auspicious post-death outcomes and lessens compulsive return to embodied existence.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform tarpaṇa/śrāddha with sincerity and regularity according to one’s tradition; the verse emphasizes that even small offerings, done with faith and correctness, are meaningful for honoring ancestors and cultivating dharmic continuity.