Shloka 1

Dṛṣṭānta on Siddhi: Pitṛ-Procedure, Non-Delusion, and Vyākaraṇa Classifications

Devanagari script

नाम पञ्चोत्तरद्विशततमो ऽध्यायः सूत उवाच / सिद्धोदाहरणं वक्ष्ये संहितादिपुरः सरम् / विप्राः स्वसागता वीदं सुत्तमं स्यात्पितॄषभः

Transliteration

nāma pañcottaradviśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ sūta uvāca / siddhodāharaṇaṃ vakṣye saṃhitādipuraḥ saram / viprāḥ svasāgatā vīdaṃ suttamaṃ syātpitṝṣabhaḥ

Translation

苏多说道：“我将宣说一则譬喻，以昭示已成就的灵验之果——此为从古老诸《集成》(Saṃhitā)与原初传承中萃取的精髓。噢婆罗门们，既已来到此处，当聆听这段关于诸 Pitṛ（祖灵）之中最尊胜者的殊胜故事。”

Word by Word

• नाम: namely / called
• नाम: Discourse marker
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: पदपूरण/उपपद-निपात (particle; ‘indeed/namely’)

• पञ्चोत्तरद्विशततमः: the two-hundred-and-fifth (chapter)
• पञ्चोत्तरद्विशततमः: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च + उत्तर + द्विशत + तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; क्रमवाचक-विशेषण (ordinal)

• अध्यायः: chapter
• अध्यायः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अध्याय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• सूतः: Sūta
• सूतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सिद्धोदाहरणम्: a proven example / established illustration
• सिद्धोदाहरणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिद्ध + उदाहरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• वक्ष्ये: I shall speak
• वक्ष्ये: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• संहितादिपुरःसरम्: preceded by Saṃhitā and others
• संहितादिपुरःसरम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संहिता + आदि + पुरःसर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘उदाहरणम्’)

• विप्राः: O Brahmins
• विप्राः: Sambodhana (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; संबोधनार्थेऽपि (contextually vocative)

• स्वसागताः: well-received / duly welcomed
• स्वसागताः: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व + सागत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘विप्राः’)

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• सुत्तमम्: excellent / best
• सुत्तमम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• स्यात्: may be / should be
• स्यात्: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• पितॄषभः: bull among the Fathers (best of Pitṛs)
• पितॄषभः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ + ऋषभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

Speaker

Sūta

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Authoritative teaching is grounded in saṃhitā/āgama tradition and illustrated through siddha-udāharaṇa (proven exemplars), here connected to Pitṛ-devatā reverence.

Vedantic Theme: Śruti-smṛti-purāṇa as pramāṇa (means of knowledge) for dharma; humility before lineage (paramparā).

Application: Approach ritual/ancestral teachings through reliable sources and exemplars; cultivate attentive listening (śravaṇa) in sacred study.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: assembly/sabhā

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: Pretakalpa and Śrāddha-kalpa introductions where Sūta frames instruction (general structural parallel)

Characters & Entities

• Sūta
• Vipras (Brahmanas)
• Pitris

FAQs

What is the importance of a “siddhodāharaṇa” (illustrative example) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames the chapter as a teaching through an example meant to show “siddhi” or proven results—so the listener treats what follows as practical, tradition-backed instruction rather than mere story.

How does this verse connect to the Garuda Purana’s focus on the afterlife and ancestral rites?

By highlighting the “foremost among the Pitṛs,” the verse signals a Pitṛ-centered teaching, aligning with the Purana’s broader concern for post-death welfare, ancestral obligations, and dharma that supports the departed.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Approach ancestral duties (śrāddha, remembrance, ethical living) with seriousness, and study traditional teachings as actionable guidance—listening carefully and applying what is taught.