Shloka 1

Tarpaṇa-vidhi (Rite of Water-libations) for Devas and Pitṛs

Devanagari script

नाम चतुर्दशोत्तरद्विशततमो ऽध्यायः ब्रह्मोवाच / तर्पणं सम्प्रवक्ष्यामि देवादिपितृतुष्टिदम्

Transliteration

nāma caturdaśottaradviśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ brahmovāca / tarpaṇaṃ sampravakṣyāmi devādipitṛtuṣṭidam

Translation

ชื่อบท: บทที่ ๒๑๕. พระพรหมตรัสว่า “บัดนี้เราจักแสดงพิธีตัรปณะ อันยังความพอใจแก่เหล่าเทวะและปิตฤ (บรรพชน) ให้บังเกิด”

Word by Word

• नाम: (entitled)
• नाम: Sambandha (Discourse marker/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात/अव्यय (metalinguistic particle: ‘named/called’)

• चतुर्दशोत्तरद्विशततमः: the 214th
• चतुर्दशोत्तरद्विशततमः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर्दशोत्तरद्विशततम (प्रातिपदिक) = चतुर्दश + उत्तर + द्विशत + तम (तद्धित/क्रमवाचक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्रमवाचक-विशेषण (अध्यायः)

• अध्यायः: chapter
• अध्यायः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अध्याय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्सभूत/perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तर्पणम्: tarpaṇa (libation rite)
• तर्पणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तर्पण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सम्प्रवक्ष्यामि: I shall explain fully
• सम्प्रवक्ष्यामि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) + सम् + प्र (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लृट् (simple future), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• देवादिपितृतुष्टिदम्: giving satisfaction to gods and ancestors
• देवादिपितृतुष्टिदम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: देवादिपितृतुष्टिद (प्रातिपदिक) = देव + आदि + पितृ + तुष्टि + द (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (तर्पणम्)

Speaker

Brahmā

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Chapter opening—signals the start of tarpaṇa-vidhi within śrāddha/pitṛ-yajña context.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Tarpaṇa is a dharmic rite whose purpose is tṛpti (satisfaction) of devas and ancestors, sustaining cosmic and familial order.

Vedantic Theme: Maintenance of loka-saṅgraha (world-order) through prescribed action; honoring higher and ancestral principles as part of right living.

Application: Learn and perform tarpaṇa with correct method and intention, recognizing it as gratitude toward both cosmic forces and lineage.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: textual/teaching-setting

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.214.38-41 (immediately preceding tarpaṇa procedures and recipients); Garuda Purana (Pretakalpa sections elsewhere describing post-death journey and the supportive role of śrāddha/tarpaṇa)

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Devas
• Pitṛs

FAQs

What is the importance of tarpaṇa in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames tarpaṇa as a prescribed rite specifically meant to “satisfy” (tuṣṭi) the Devas and the Pitṛs, establishing it as a key dharmic offering connected to ancestral rites.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by introducing tarpaṇa as a Deva-and-Pitṛ-satisfying act, it signals that proper post-death and ancestral observances are part of dharma that supports the departed and maintains the spiritual order upheld by higher beings.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform tarpaṇa (as per one’s tradition and guidance) with sincerity and purity of intent, treating it as a disciplined act of gratitude toward ancestors and reverence toward the Devas.