Shloka 27

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

Devanagari script

पितॄन्नमस्ये निवसन्ति साक्षाद्ये देवलोके ऽथ महीतले वा / तथान्तरिक्षे च सुरारिपूज्यास्ते वै प्रतीच्छन्तु मयोपनीतम्

Transliteration

pitṝnnamasye nivasanti sākṣādye devaloke 'tha mahītale vā / tathāntarikṣe ca surāripūjyāste vai pratīcchantu mayopanītam

Translation

ഞാൻ പിതൃകളെ നമസ്കരിക്കുന്നു—അവർ സാക്ഷാൽ ദേവലോകത്തിലോ, ഭൂമിയിലോ, അന്തരീക്ഷത്തിലോ വസിക്കുന്നവർ; ദേവശത്രുക്കൾക്കും പൂജ്യരായ അവർ, ഞാൻ അർപ്പിച്ചതിനെ സ്വീകരിക്കട്ടെ।

Word by Word

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

• नमस्ये: I bow to
• नमस्ये: Kriyā (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नमस् (धातु: नम्)
• Form: लट्, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

• निवसन्ति: they dwell
• निवसन्ति: Kriyā (Relative-clause verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: निवस् (धातु: वस् with नि-)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural), परस्मैपद

• साक्षात्: directly, manifestly
• साक्षात्: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साक्षात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: directly/manifestly)

• ये: who
• ये: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (relative), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• देवलोके: in the world of the gods
• देवलोके: Adhikaraṇa (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवलोक (प्रातिपदिक: देव + लोक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी, एकवचन

• अथ: and/then
• अथ: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle: 'and/then')

• महीतले: on the surface of the earth
• महीतले: Adhikaraṇa (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महीतल (प्रातिपदिक: मही + तल)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक निपात (particle of alternative)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha/Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: likewise)

• अन्तरिक्षे: in the mid-region/sky
• अन्तरिक्षे: Adhikaraṇa (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तरिक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (conjunction)

• सुरारिपूज्याः: worthy of worship even by enemies of the gods
• सुरारिपूज्याः: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुर-अरि-पूज्य (प्रातिपदिक: सुर + अरि + पूज्य)
• Form: पूज्य (कृदन्त; √पूज्, तव्यत्/यत्-प्रत्ययार्थ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying पितरः understood)

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (demonstrative), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: Emphasis
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• प्रतीच्छन्तु: may they accept
• प्रतीच्छन्तु: Kriyā (Benedictive/command)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रतिच्छ् (धातु: प्रतिच्छ्/प्रति-इष्?; accepted as √प्रति-इच्छ्/प्रतीच्छ् 'to accept')
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural), परस्मैपद

• मया: by me
• मया: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, तृतीया, एकवचन

• उपनीतम्: brought/offered (by me)
• उपनीतम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उपनीत (कृदन्त; धातु: नी with उप-)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; (object understood: offering)

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa, within a Pitṛ-offering/prayer context)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Conclusion/acceptance prayer within śrāddha sequence

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śaraṇāgati-like request: may the Pitṛs accept what is offered; devotion is expressed as humble petition rather than entitlement.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara-niyati analog applied to Pitṛs: results depend on acceptance/grace; cultivates non-possessiveness over ritual fruit.

Application: After performing offerings, conclude with a sincere prayer of acceptance; cultivate gratitude and humility toward lineage and benefactors.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: multi-realm (celestial, terrestrial, atmospheric)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana śrāddha mantras concluding with 'pratīcchantu' style acceptance formulas; Sections describing Pitṛs in various lokas and their accessibility through śrāddha

Characters & Entities

• Pitṛs

FAQs

What is the importance of Pitṛ-tarpaṇa in Garuḍa Purāṇa?

This verse frames tarpaṇa as a direct salutation and offering to the Pitṛs wherever they may reside, emphasizing that sincere offerings can reach them across realms.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By acknowledging multiple planes of existence (devaloka, earth, and antarikṣa), it reflects the Purāṇic view that post-death states vary, and rites are meant to support and honor ancestors across those states.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform ancestral rites with clarity of intention—offer respectfully, remember the ancestors without hostility, and treat such observances as part of dharma and gratitude.