Shloka 15

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

Devanagari script

नमस्ये ऽहं पितॄन्स्वर्गे सिद्धाः सन्तर्पयन्ति यान् / श्राद्धेषु दिव्यैः सकलैरुपहारैरनुत्तमैः

Transliteration

namasye 'haṃ pitṝnsvarge siddhāḥ santarpayanti yān / śrāddheṣu divyaiḥ sakalairupahārairanuttamaiḥ

Translation

నేను స్వర్గస్థ పితృదేవతలకు నమస్కరిస్తాను; సిద్ధులు శ్రాద్ధకర్మలలో సమస్త దివ్యమైన, అత్యుత్తమ ఉపహారాలతో వారిని సంతృప్తిపరచుదురు।

Word by Word

• नमस्ये: I bow
• नमस्ये: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक) + √अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, एकवचन

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

• स्वर्गे: in heaven
• स्वर्गे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• सिद्धाः: the Siddhas
• सिद्धाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• सन्तर्पयन्ति: they satisfy
• सन्तर्पयन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √तृप् (धातु) (णिच् causative: तर्पय)
• Form: लट्, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद; णिच्-प्रयोगः (causative): ‘they satisfy/propitiate’

• यान्: whom
• यान्: Karman (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध-प्रयोगः (relative)

• श्राद्धेषु: in śrāddha rites
• श्राद्धेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन

• दिव्यैः: divine
• दिव्यैः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक-समर्थ, तृतीया, बहुवचन; ‘उपहारैः’ इति विशेषणम्

• सकलैः: all
• सकलैः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सकल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक-समर्थ, तृतीया, बहुवचन; ‘उपहारैः’ इति विशेषणम्

• उपहारैः: with offerings
• उपहारैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपहार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• अनुत्तमैः: unsurpassed / excellent
• अनुत्तमैः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनुत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक-समर्थ, तृतीया, बहुवचन; ‘उपहारैः’ इति विशेषणम्

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrative voice addressing Garuda/Vinata-putra contextually)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Śrāddha occasions with full upahāra (not time-specified)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śrāddha performed with complete and excellent offerings (upahāra) by perfected beings gratifies Pitṛs; excellence in offering reflects excellence in intention and purity.

Vedantic Theme: Sattva-śuddhi through yajña-like duty; honoring Pitṛs sustains ṛṇa (debts) and supports ordered life (ṛta/dharma).

Application: Offer the best feasible items with cleanliness and respect; prioritize quality, purity, and completeness within one’s means while keeping faith central.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: celestial realm where Siddhas operate

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana śrāddha-vidhi passages describing upahāras, anna, and tarpaṇa; Garuda Purana praises of Pitṛs and results of proper śrāddha

Characters & Entities

• Pitris
• Siddhas
• Svarga

FAQs

What is the importance of Pitṛs and Śrāddha in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames Śrāddha as a dharmic act that directly gratifies the Pitṛs in heaven, emphasizing ancestral satisfaction as a sacred outcome of properly offered rites.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By highlighting the Pitṛs’ heavenly state and their nourishment through rites, it implies that post-death welfare and ancestral realms are linked with ritual support offered by the living.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform Śrāddha/tarpaṇa with sincerity and appropriate offerings (as per one’s tradition), cultivating gratitude to ancestors and continuity of dharma in family life.