Shloka 16

Ācāra-Nirṇaya: Varṇa-Āśrama Dharma, Śauca, Snāna, Sandhyā, Japa, Tarpaṇa, and Gṛhastha-Dinacaryā

Devanagari script

देवपित्रतितिभ्यश्च पूजादिष्वनुकल्पनम् / श्रुतिस्मृत्यर्थसंस्थानं धर्मो ऽयं गृहमेधिनः

Transliteration

devapitratitibhyaśca pūjādiṣvanukalpanam / śrutismṛtyarthasaṃsthānaṃ dharmo 'yaṃ gṛhamedhinaḥ

Translation

การจัดเตรียมให้สมควรสำหรับการบูชาและพิธีต่าง ๆ แด่เทพเจ้า บรรพชน และอาคันตุกะ พร้อมทั้งตั้งมั่นการประพฤติตามความหมายแห่งศรุติและสมฤติ—นี่คือธรรมของคฤหัสถ์.

Word by Word

• देवपितृअतिथिभ्यः: from/for gods, ancestors, and guests
• देवपितृअतिथिभ्यः: Sampradana/Apadana (Recipient/Source nuance)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + पितृ + अतिथि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/अपादान), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (देवाश्च पितरश्च अतिथयश्च)

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

• पूजादिषु: in worship and related rites
• पूजादिषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूजा + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), बहुवचन; आदि-समाहार (पूजादयः)

• अनुकल्पनम्: proper arrangement/appropriate performance
• अनुकल्पनम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनु + कल्पन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• श्रुतिस्मृत्यर्थसंस्थानम्: establishing the meaning of Śruti and Smṛti
• श्रुतिस्मृत्यर्थसंस्थानम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रुति + स्मृति + अर्थ + संस्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (श्रुतेः स्मृतेश्च अर्थस्य संस्थानम् = establishment of the meaning of śruti & smṛti)

• धर्मः: duty/dharma
• धर्मः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• गृहमेधिनः: of the householder
• गृहमेधिनः: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृहमेधिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Householder dharma: provide for worship/rites to gods, ancestors, and guests; align conduct with the intent of Śruti and Smṛti.

Vedantic Theme: Ṛṇa-traya (debts to devas, ṛṣis, pitṛs) and yajña-spirit; dharma as harmonizing principle for worldly life.

Application: Maintain regular worship, ancestor remembrance, and hospitality/charity; study and apply ethical teachings with discernment.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: household/ritual-space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.213 (gṛhastha dharma; ritual obligations)

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Pitris
• Atithis

FAQs

What is the importance of Deva-Pitri-Atithi worship in the Garuda Purana?

This verse defines it as a core obligation of the householder: maintaining right worship, ancestor duties, and hospitality as part of dharma.

How does this verse connect dharma with Śruti and Smṛti?

It says household conduct and ritual arrangements should be established in the purport of Śruti (Veda) and Smṛti (traditional dharma texts), not merely personal preference.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Keep regular worship, remember and honor ancestors through appropriate observances, and practice sincere hospitality—while aligning actions with authentic scriptural ethics and tradition.