Shloka 79

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

Devanagari script

वसन्ते षोडश समास्तृप्तये श्राद्धकर्मणि / ग्रीष्मे च षोडशैवैतत्पठितं तृप्तिकारकम्

Transliteration

vasante ṣoḍaśa samāstṛptaye śrāddhakarmaṇi / grīṣme ca ṣoḍaśaivaitatpaṭhitaṃ tṛptikārakam

Translation

ਬਸੰਤ ਰੁੱਤ ਵਿੱਚ ਸ਼੍ਰਾਦ੍ਹ ਕਰਮ ਵਿੱਚ ਤ੍ਰਿਪਤੀ ਲਈ ਸੋਲ੍ਹਾਂ ਵਾਰ ਪਾਠ ਦਾ ਵਿਧਾਨ ਹੈ। ਗਰਮੀ ਵਿੱਚ ਵੀ ਇਹੀ ਸਤੋਤ੍ਰ ਸੋਲ੍ਹਾਂ ਵਾਰ ਪੜ੍ਹਿਆ ਜਾਵੇ ਤਾਂ ਪਿਤਰਾਂ ਦੀ ਤ੍ਰਿਪਤੀ ਦਾ ਕਾਰਨ ਬਣਦਾ ਹੈ।

Word by Word

• वसन्ते: in spring
• वसन्ते: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन; कालवाचक-सप्तमी (locative of time)

• षोडश: sixteen
• षोडश: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षोडश (संख्याशब्द-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्याविशेषण; (सामान्यतः) बहुवचनार्थे/गणनार्थे; रूपं अविकारी

• समाः: years
• समाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• तृप्तये: for satisfaction
• तृप्तये: Sampradana (Recipient/Purpose/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तृप्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (4th/Dative), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थे (for the purpose)

• श्राद्धकर्मणि: in the śrāddha rite
• श्राद्धकर्मणि: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध + कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (श्राद्धस्य कर्म)

• ग्रीष्मे: in summer
• ग्रीष्मे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्रीष्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन; कालवाचक-सप्तमी

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• षोडश: sixteen
• षोडश: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षोडश (संख्याशब्द-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्याविशेषण; रूपं अविकारी

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• एतत्: this (hymn/thing)
• एतत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• पठितम्: recited/read
• पठितम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पठ् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘पठितम्’ = read/recited

• तृप्तिकारकम्: causing satisfaction
• तृप्तिकारकम्: Visheshana (Predicate adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तृप्ति + कारक (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (तृप्तिं करोति इति)

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa/Vinatā-putra, within Śrāddha-vidhi context)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Vasanta and Grīṣma seasons; recitation count: sixteen.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Mantra/recitation-count (saṅkhyā) and seasonal propriety enhance pitṛ-tṛpti (ancestral satisfaction).

Vedantic Theme: Ṛta (cosmic order) expressed as dharma; efficacy of śabda (sacred sound) in sustaining subtle beings.

Application: During Śrāddha in vasanta and grīṣma, recite the prescribed text sixteen times to support pitṛ satisfaction.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: Śrāddha-vidhi sections on pitṛ-tṛpti via stotra/pāṭha; Garuda Purana: seasonal/ṛtu-based ritual prescriptions in Śrāddha context

Characters & Entities

• Pitṛs
• Śrāddha

FAQs

What is the importance of seasonal recitation counts in the Garuda Purana’s Śrāddha rules?

This verse specifies a fixed count—sixteen recitations—in spring and summer, indicating that disciplined, prescribed repetition is considered directly efficacious for pitṛ-tṛpti (satisfaction of the ancestors) within Śrāddha.

How does this verse connect Śrāddha practice to the well-being of the departed?

By stating that the prescribed recitation itself is “tṛpti-kāraka” (a cause of satisfaction), the verse frames correct performance—especially proper paṭha with the right count—as a means to support and appease the departed/ancestors.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If performing Śrāddha, follow a consistent, traditional count and method of recitation rather than improvising—treating the rite as disciplined dharma aimed at remembrance, gratitude, and continuity of ancestral duties.