Shloka 41

Śrāddha Vidhi: Kāla (Timing), Pātra (Recipient), and Karma (Procedure) for Pitṛ-tarpaṇa and Piṇḍa

Devanagari script

पुत्रश्रैष्ट्यं स सौभाग्यं समृद्धिं मुख्यतां शुभम् / प्रवृत्तचक्रतां चैव वाणिज्यप्रभृतींस्तथा

Transliteration

putraśraiṣṭyaṃ sa saubhāgyaṃ samṛddhiṃ mukhyatāṃ śubham / pravṛttacakratāṃ caiva vāṇijyaprabhṛtīṃstathā

Translation

ఉత్తమ సంతానం, సౌభాగ్యం, సమృద్ధి, గౌరవప్రదమైన ప్రధాన్యత, శుభత—అలాగే కార్యచక్రం సజావుగా సాగడం, వ్యాపారం మొదలైన వాటిలో విజయమూ కలుగుతుంది.

Word by Word

• पुत्रश्रैष्ट्यम्: excellence of sons
• पुत्रश्रैष्ट्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र-श्रैष्ठ्य (प्रातिपदिक; पुत्रस्य श्रैष्ठ्यम्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• स: he/that (one)
• स: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• सौभाग्यम्: good fortune
• सौभाग्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौभाग्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• समृद्धिम्: prosperity
• समृद्धिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समृद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• मुख्यताम्: pre-eminence
• मुख्यताम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुख्यता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• शुभम्: auspicious
• शुभम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying the listed boons)

• प्रवृत्तचक्रताम्: having the wheel in motion (successful enterprise)
• प्रवृत्तचक्रताम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रवृत्त-चक्रता (प्रातिपदिक; प्रवृत्तं चक्रं यस्य/या सा)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (possessive abstract)

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

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक निपात (emphatic particle)

• वाणिज्यप्रभृतीन्: trade and the like
• वाणिज्यप्रभृतीन्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाणिज्य-प्रभृति (प्रातिपदिक; वाणिज्यं प्रभृतिः येषाम्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), बहुवचन; ‘etc. beginning with trade’

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (likewise)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Implied continuation of the preceding tithi-based śrāddha-phala context.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual merit manifests as tangible family and societal goods: excellent progeny, saubhāgya, samṛddhi, prominence, and commercial success.

Vedantic Theme: Artha and kāma are to be harmonized under dharma; righteous acts support orderly prosperity without severing sacred obligations.

Application: Undertake ancestral rites and charity with integrity; treat prosperity as stewardship—support family, community, and dharmic causes.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: household/social sphere (artha-life)

Cross References

Related Themes: Continuation of tithi/śrāddha-phala enumeration in Garuda Purana (1.99.39-41)

FAQs

What is the importance of auspicious outcomes like prosperity in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents prosperity, good fortune, and social prominence as fruits of dharmic merit (puṇya), showing that the text links ethical-religious living with well-being in worldly life.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by emphasizing puṇya’s tangible results in life, it supports the broader Garuda Purana framework where karma shapes both worldly conditions and post-death trajectories.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate dharmic habits—truthfulness, generosity, and responsible livelihood—so that one’s family life, work, and commerce proceed steadily and auspiciously.