Shloka 69

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

Devanagari script

त्वं च प्रिजापतिर्भूत्वा प्रजाः सृष्ट्वा चतुर्विधाः / क्षीणाधिकारो धर्मज्ञस्ततः सिद्धिमवाप्स्यसि

Transliteration

tvaṃ ca prijāpatirbhūtvā prajāḥ sṛṣṭvā caturvidhāḥ / kṣīṇādhikāro dharmajñastataḥ siddhimavāpsyasi

Translation

Ngươi cũng sẽ trở thành Prajāpati, tạo dựng chúng sinh thành bốn loại; rồi khi quyền hạn được định của ngươi đã mãn, và ngươi là người hiểu biết dharma, ngươi sẽ đạt đến siddhi—sự viên mãn tối hậu.

Word by Word

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), उत्तमपुरुषार्थे (2nd person reference), एकवचन, प्रथमा (1st case)

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

• प्रजापतिः: lord of creatures, Prajāpati
• प्रजापतिः: Karta (Subject complement/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा (1st case); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (genitive determinative): प्रजायाः पतिः

• भूत्वा: having become
• भूत्वा: Kriya (Adverbial action/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having become)

• प्रजाः: creatures, beings
• प्रजाः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, द्वितीया (2nd case)

• सृष्ट्वा: having created
• सृष्ट्वा: Kriya (Adverbial action/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सृज् (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having created)

• चतुर्विधाः: fourfold
• चतुर्विधाः: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् + विध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण (adjective), पुंलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, द्वितीया (2nd case) — प्रजाः इति विशेष्यस्य; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुषार्थे ‘चतुर्विध’ (fourfold)

• क्षीणाधिकारः: with diminished authority
• क्षीणाधिकारः: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षीण + अधिकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण, पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा (1st case); कर्मधारयः ‘क्षीणः अधिकारः यस्य/क्षीणाधिकारः’ (with diminished authority)

• धर्मज्ञः: knower of dharma
• धर्मज्ञः: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म + ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण, पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा (1st case); उपपद-तत्पुरुषः ‘धर्मं जानाति’ (knower of dharma)

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana (Temporal/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, तस्मात्/तदनन्तरम् (from that/thereafter)

• सिद्धिम्: success, attainment
• सिद्धिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया (2nd case)

• अवाप्स्यसि: you will attain
• अवाप्स्यसि: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव + आप् (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (simple future), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Even high cosmic office is time-bound; when adhikāra is exhausted, dharma-knowledge ripens into siddhi (final fulfillment).

Vedantic Theme: Anityatva of positions and fruits; maturation through dharma leading toward liberation-oriented perfection.

Application: Perform one’s svadharma without clinging to status; cultivate dharma-jñāna and detachment so that life’s roles culminate in inner fulfillment.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Preta-khanda): recurring theme that all worldly/celestial enjoyments and offices are kṣaya (exhaustible) and dharma alone supports higher gati

Characters & Entities

• Prajapati
• Prajah (beings/creatures)
• Dharma

FAQs

What is the importance of becoming a Prajapati in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames worldly authority (adhikāra) as a temporary, duty-based role: even high cosmic offices like Prajāpati are part of dharma-driven responsibility, not the final goal.

How does this verse explain the path toward siddhi (spiritual perfection)?

It teaches that after fulfilling one’s ordained role and exhausting its karmic mandate, a dharma-knower becomes fit to attain siddhi—implying liberation through righteous action and right understanding.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform your responsibilities ethically and without clinging to status or power; treat roles as temporary duties, and prioritize dharma and inner clarity for lasting spiritual progress.