Shloka 77

Dāna as Prāyaścitta; Deathbed Gifts; Antyeṣṭi Procedures; Nārāyaṇa-bali for Untimely Deaths

Devanagari script

तृप्यन्तु तृप्यतां वापि तर्पयाम्युपतिष्ठताम् / प्रेतैतदमुकगोत्रेत्युक्तेष्वेवं समुच्चरेत्

Transliteration

tṛpyantu tṛpyatāṃ vāpi tarpayāmyupatiṣṭhatām / pretaitadamukagotretyukteṣvevaṃ samuccaret

Translation

അവർ തൃപ്തരാകട്ടെ, അല്ലെങ്കിൽ തൃപ്തി പ്രാപിക്കട്ടെ; ഞാൻ ഈ തർപ്പണം അർപ്പിക്കുന്നു—അവർ സമീപിച്ച് സ്വീകരിക്കട്ടെ. ‘അമുക നാമമുള്ള പ്രേത, അമുക ഗോത്ര’ എന്നു പറഞ്ഞ് ഇങ്ങനെ തന്നെ ഉച്ചരിക്കണം।

Word by Word

तृप्यन्तुlet them be satisfied

तृप्यताम्let (it/he) be satisfied

वाor

अपिalso/even

तर्पयामिI satisfy/propitiate

उपतिष्ठताम्let them attend/approach

प्रेतO departed one (preta)

एतत्this

अमुकso-and-so (named)

गोत्रin the gotra/lineage

इतिthus

उक्तेषुwhen (these words) have been uttered

एवम्in this manner

समुच्चरेत्should recite/utter aloud

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Immediately during tarpaṇa/udaka-dāna sequence for the recently deceased (preta)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śrāddha/tarpaṇa efficacy depends on proper saṅkalpa: naming (amuka) and gotra to direct offerings to the intended recipient.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-kāṇḍa as niyata-karma: precise intention (saṅkalpa) channels karmic fruit; ritual order supports loka-saṅgraha and pitṛ-ṛṇa discharge.

Application: When performing tarpana, explicitly state the deceased’s name and gotra and recite the satisfaction formula with steadiness and clarity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual-site (tīrtha/ghṛha/śmaśāna vicinity implied)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa/Śrāddha sections on tarpaṇa and saṅkalpa formulas (adjacent verses 2.4.76–2.4.82); Garuda Purana instructions on naming/gotra in ekoddiṣṭa and parvaṇa śrāddha (elsewhere in 2nd khaṇḍa)

Characters & Entities

Preta

FAQs

What is the importance of naming the preta with gotra in Garuda Purana rituals?

This verse indicates that the offering is directed to a specific departed person; stating name and gotra ensures the tarpana is ritually addressed to the intended preta and not left vague.

How does this verse explain the interaction between the living and the departed?

It presents a formal invocation: the performer requests the preta to be present (upatiṣṭhatām) and declares the act of satiation (tarpayāmi), framing the rite as a communicative offering meant to reach the departed.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing Shraddha/tarpana, be precise and respectful—clearly dedicate the act to the intended departed relative (by family identification) and perform the offering with mindful intent rather than as a mechanical routine.