Shloka 50

Devanagari script

आश्चर्यमिति तज्ज्ञात्वा तदा स्वस्थानमागमत् / सीतया पितरो दृष्टा यथा तत्ते निवेदितम्

Transliteration

āścaryamiti tajjñātvā tadā svasthānamāgamat / sītayā pitaro dṛṣṭā yathā tatte niveditam

Translation

ଏହା ଆଶ୍ଚର୍ୟ ବୋଲି ଜାଣି ସେ ତେବେ ନିଜ ଧାମକୁ ଫେରିଗଲା। ସୀତା ପିତୃଗଣଙ୍କୁ ଦର୍ଶନ କଲେ—ଯେପରି ତୁମକୁ ନିବେଦିତ ହୋଇଥିଲା।

Word by Word

• आश्चर्यम्: a wonder, astonishment
• आश्चर्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आश्चर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Case 1/2), एकवचन

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (Discourse marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/वाक्यसमाप्तिसूचक अव्यय (quotative particle)

• तत्: that (fact/thing)
• तत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Case 2), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• ज्ञात्वा: having known
• ज्ञात्वा: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial participle/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• तदा: then
• तदा: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• स्वस्थानम्: one's own place
• स्वस्थानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Case 2), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (स्वस्य स्थानम्)

• आगमत्: went, returned
• आगमत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + गम् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सीतया: by Sītā
• सीतया: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सीता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Case 3), एकवचन

• पितरः: the fathers/ancestors
• पितरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Case 1), बहुवचन

• दृष्टाः: were seen
• दृष्टाः: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• यथा: as, in the manner that
• यथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमान/प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (comparative/manner)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Case 1/2), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• ते: to you/your
• ते: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Case 6), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• निवेदितम्: was reported/told
• निवेदितम्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + विद् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda, Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Pitṛ-darśana as validation of ancestral presence and the reality of unseen results (adṛṣṭa) connected with rites and merit.

Vedantic Theme: Subtle realms (sūkṣma-loka) and pramāṇa: testimony/report (āgama/itihāsa) supports what is not ordinarily perceived; karma’s unseen fruition is real.

Application: Treat śrāddha and pitṛ-tarpaṇa as meaningful even when results are not visible; cultivate faith (śraddhā) and regular ancestral observances.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.10.51-54 (immediately following śrāddha-māhātmya and Pitṛ expectation at the doorway)

Characters & Entities

• Pitris
• Sita

FAQs

What is the importance of Pitṛs (ancestors) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights the acknowledged reality of the Pitṛs and their perceivability, reinforcing the Purana’s emphasis on honoring ancestors through śrāddha and related rites.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By mentioning the Pitṛs being ‘seen’ and the return to one’s proper abode, it supports the Garuda Purana’s broader narrative that subtle realms and post-death states are real and can be apprehended under specific conditions.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain reverence for ancestors and uphold dharmic conduct; perform appropriate śrāddha/ancestor offerings with faith, as the text treats the Pitṛs as an active, meaningful presence in the afterlife framework.