Shloka 21

The Extent of Questions: Deathbed Rites, Kāla (Time), and Karma-Vipāka Rebirths

Devanagari script

तेन ते पितरस्तृप्ता अपसव्ये कृते सति / दर्भमूले स्थितो ब्रह्मा मध्ये देवो जनार्दनः

Transliteration

tena te pitarastṛptā apasavye kṛte sati / darbhamūle sthito brahmā madhye devo janārdanaḥ

Translation

Por esse ato, os Pitṛ (ancestrais) ficam satisfeitos quando a oferenda é feita com o cordão sagrado usado no modo apasavya. Na raiz da relva darbha assenta-se Brahmā, e no meio está o divino Janārdana (Viṣṇu).

Word by Word

• तेन: by that (act)
• तेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• ते: those
• ते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम (enclitic)

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

• तृप्ताः: satisfied
• तृप्ताः: Karta (Predicate adjective/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तृप् (धातु) + त (क्त) → तृप्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय, past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (पितरः)

• अपसव्ये: in/with the apasavya (leftward) rite
• अपसव्ये: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपसव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• कृते: when (it is) done
• कृते: Adhikarana (Locative absolute/सप्तमी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) + त (क्त) → कृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; ‘अपसव्ये’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्; लोके ‘कृते सति’ = when done

• सति: being (the case)
• सति: Adhikarana (Locative absolute/सप्तमी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अस् (धातु) + शतृ (शतृ-प्रत्यय) → सत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कृदन्त (शतृ, present participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; सप्तमी-सम्बन्ध (locative absolute)

• दर्भमूले: at the root of the darbha grass
• दर्भमूले: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दर्भ (प्रातिपदिक) + मूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (दर्भस्य मूलम्)

• स्थितः: standing/placed
• स्थितः: Karta (Predicate adjective/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्था (धातु) + त (क्त) → स्थित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (ब्रह्मा)

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन्/ब्रह्मा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• मध्ये: in the middle
• मध्ये: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः ‘मध्ये’ = in the middle

• देवः: the god
• देवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• जनार्दनः: Janārdana (Viṣṇu)
• जनार्दनः: Karta (Apposition/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनार्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; देवः इत्यस्य समानाधिकरण-विशेष्य (apposition)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (Janardana) instructing Garuda (Vinata-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: At the moment of offering/tarpaṇa in pitṛ-kārya with apasavya

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual becomes efficacious when performed in the pitṛ-mode (apasavya) and when the practitioner contemplates divine immanence—Viṣṇu present within the rite.

Vedantic Theme: Antaryāmin (indwelling Lord) and sacralization of matter through dhyāna and mantra; karma supported by bhakti.

Application: During śrāddha/tarpaṇa, wear upavīta apasavya and mentally place Brahmā at darbha-mūla and Janārdana in the madhya while offering.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: ritual-space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.2.22 (Śaṅkara at darbha tip; triad in kuśa); Garuda Purana 2.2.23-24 (Tulasi/Vishnu/Ekadashi sanctity; five conveyances)

Characters & Entities

• Pitris
• Brahma
• Janardana (Vishnu)
• Darbha

FAQs

What is the importance of apasavya in Garuda Purana ancestor rituals?

This verse states that performing the rite in apasavya (the reverse mode of wearing the sacred thread used for Pitṛ-karmas) is a key condition by which the Pitṛs become satisfied.

How does this verse explain the spiritual presence during Śrāddha?

It describes a sacred mapping onto darbha grass: Brahmā is envisioned at the root, while Viṣṇu (Janārdana) is present in the middle—indicating divine sanctification of the ritual space and offerings.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing tarpaṇa or śrāddha, follow the prescribed posture and orientation (including apasavya where appropriate) and treat the ritual seat/space as sacred—emphasizing sincerity, cleanliness, and correct observance.