Shloka 23

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

Devanagari script

नमस्ये ऽहं पितॄञ्छ्राद्धे शूद्रैरपि च भक्तितः / सन्तर्प्यते जगत्कृत्स्नं नाम्ना ख्याताः सुकालिनः

Transliteration

namasye 'haṃ pitṝñchrāddhe śūdrairapi ca bhaktitaḥ / santarpyate jagatkṛtsnaṃ nāmnā khyātāḥ sukālinaḥ

Translation

Ako’y yumuyuko sa mga Pitṛ sa śrāddha; kahit ang mga Śūdra ay magsagawa nito nang may bhakti, ang buong sanlibutan ay napapawi at nasisiyahan. Ang mga Pitṛ na iyon ay tanyag sa pangalang “Sukālina.”

Word by Word

• नमस्ये: I bow
• नमस्ये: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नमस् (धातु √नम्)
• Form: लट्, आत्मनेपद, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन

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

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

• श्राद्धे: in/at the śrāddha (rite)
• श्राद्धे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• शूद्रैः: by śūdras
• शूद्रैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle)

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

• भक्तितः: out of devotion
• भक्तितः: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb): भक्तितः = भक्त्या/भक्त्या हेतोः (from devotion / out of devotion)

• सन्तर्प्यते: is satisfied / is propitiated
• सन्तर्प्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तृप् (धातु √तृप्)
• Form: लट्, कर्मणि (Passive), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद; उपसर्गः सम्

• जगत्कृत्स्नम्: the entire world
• जगत्कृत्स्नम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् + कृत्स्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अत्र कर्मणि प्रयोगे कर्तृस्थाने (passive) प्रथमा—‘the whole world’ as subject; समासः कृत्स्नं जगत्

• नाम्ना: by name
• नाम्ना: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/तृतीया), एकवचन

• ख्याताः: known/called
• ख्याताः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ख्या (धातु √ख्या)
• Form: भूतकृत् (Past passive participle/क्त), प्रथमा, बहुवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; विशेषणम् (सुकालिनः)

• सुकालिनः: (those) called Sukālina(s)
• सुकालिनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुकालिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेष्यः (ख्याताः)

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa/Vainateya)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Śrāddha context (general; performed with devotion)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Devotion (bhakti) makes śrāddha effective regardless of social station; Pitṛ satisfaction radiates as universal well-being.

Vedantic Theme: Bhakti and sincerity as the inner essence that sanctifies karma; the divine moral order responds to heartfelt intention.

Application: Do ancestral remembrance with genuine devotion and humility; avoid disparaging others’ sincere rites; prioritize heartfelt gratitude and ethical living.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: gṛha/samāja

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana statements that śraddhā (faith) is central to śrāddha efficacy and that offerings according to capacity are accepted; Garuda Purana lists/names of Pitṛ-gaṇas; here ‘Sukālina’ as an epithet/group-name

Characters & Entities

• Pitṛs
• Śūdras
• Śrāddha
• Sukālina

FAQs

What is the importance of śrāddha for the Pitṛs in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

This verse states that śrāddha offered to the Pitṛs brings satisfaction not only to ancestors but to the entire world, highlighting śrāddha as a welfare-giving dharmic rite.

Does the Garuḍa Purāṇa allow śrāddha to be performed by Śūdras?

Yes—this verse explicitly says that even when Śūdras perform śrāddha with devotion (bhakti), it is effective and brings broad satisfaction, emphasizing sincerity over mere status.

What is a practical application of this teaching today?

Perform ancestor-remembrance rites (śrāddha/tarpaṇa) with genuine devotion and ethical conduct, focusing on intention, gratitude, and responsibility to family lineage.