Shloka 19

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

Devanagari script

नमस्ये ऽहं पितॄन्ये वै तर्प्यन्ते ऽरण्यवासिभिः / वन्यैः श्राद्धैर्यताहारैस्तपोनिर्धूतकल्मषैः

Transliteration

namasye 'haṃ pitṝnye vai tarpyante 'raṇyavāsibhiḥ / vanyaiḥ śrāddhairyatāhāraistaponirdhūtakalmaṣaiḥ

Translation

Ako’y yumuyuko at nagpupugay sa mga Pitṛ (mga ninunong banal) na tunay na nasisiyahan sa mga naninirahan sa gubat—sa pamamagitan ng śrāddha na inihahandog mula sa pagkaing ligaw, sa masinop at may sukat na pagkain, at sa mga asceta na hinugasan ng kanilang tapas ang lahat ng dungis.

Word by Word

• नमस्ये: I bow / I pay homage
• नमस्ये: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नमस् (धातु √नम्)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; धातु √नम् (नमति) + स्य (णिच्-प्रत्ययवत् नमस्यति/नमस्यते)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमाविभक्ति (Nominative/प्रथमा), एकवचन; लिङ्ग-निर्देशः न (pronoun)

• पितॄन्: the forefathers (manes)
• पितॄन्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीयाविभक्ति (Accusative/द्वितीया), बहुवचन

• ये: who
• ये: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा (Nominative/प्रथमा), बहुवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle/emphatic)

• तर्प्यन्ते: are satisfied / are propitiated
• तर्प्यन्ते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तृप् (धातु √तृप्)
• Form: लट् (Present), कर्मणि प्रयोग (Passive), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन, आत्मनेपद; √तृप् (तर्पयति/तर्प्यते)

• अरण्यवासिभिः: by forest-dwellers
• अरण्यवासिभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अरण्य + वासिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीयाविभक्ति (Instrumental/तृतीया), बहुवचन; समासः अरण्ये वासिनः (locative-tatpurusha)

• वन्यैः: wild/forest (made of forest produce)
• वन्यैः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/तृतीया), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (श्राद्धैः इत्यस्य)

• श्राद्धैः: by śrāddha rites/offerings
• श्राद्धैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/तृतीया), बहुवचन

• यताहारैः: with controlled diet
• यताहारैः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यत + आहार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/तृतीया), बहुवचन; समासः यतः आहारः यस्य/यत आहारः (controlled diet)

• तपोनिर्धूतकल्मषैः: whose sins are cleansed by austerity
• तपोनिर्धूतकल्मषैः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तपस् + निर्धूत + कल्मष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/तृतीया), बहुवचन; समासः तपसा निर्धूतं कल्मषं येषाम् (sins washed off by austerity)

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Śrāddha occasions generally (tithi-based; also adaptable in forest life)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Pitṛs are satisfied by śrāddha performed with purity, restraint, and tapas; inner cleanliness can sanctify simple offerings.

Vedantic Theme: Antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi (purification of mind) as the basis for efficacious ritual; karma becomes sattvika when done with niyama and reduced ego.

Application: Perform ancestral offerings according to one’s station and resources with disciplined diet, cleanliness, and sincerity; prioritize purity and restraint over luxury.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: forest/ashrama

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa/Śrāddha-khaṇḍa passages praising śrāddha done with śauca, niyama, and appropriate dravya; Garuda Purana sections on āśrama-dharma (vānaprastha/tapas) supporting ritual efficacy

Characters & Entities

• Pitṛs

FAQs

What is the importance of Pitṛ-tarpaṇa and śrāddha in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

This verse states that the Pitṛs are genuinely satisfied when offerings are made with purity and discipline—especially through śrāddha performed with simple, righteous means and a regulated life.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

By emphasizing Pitṛ-satisfaction through śrāddha and tapas, it points to the supportive role of ancestral rites: they sustain the departed’s welfare and uphold dharma within the post-death framework described in the Purāṇa.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform śrāddha/tarpaṇa with sincerity, ethical living, and simplicity—keeping moderation in food and conduct—rather than treating the rite as mere formality or display.