Shloka 41

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

Devanagari script

अग्निष्वात्ताः पितृगणाः प्राचीं रक्षन्तु मे दिशम् / तथा बर्हिषदः पान्तु याम्यां मे पितरः सदा / प्रतीचीमाज्यपास्तद्वदुदीचीमपि सोमपाः

Transliteration

agniṣvāttāḥ pitṛgaṇāḥ prācīṃ rakṣantu me diśam / tathā barhiṣadaḥ pāntu yāmyāṃ me pitaraḥ sadā / pratīcīmājyapāstadvadudīcīmapi somapāḥ

Translation

愿阿耆尼湿瓦塔（Agniṣvātta）祖灵之众护佑我之东方；亦愿巴尔希萨德（Barhiṣad）祖灵常守我之南方；同样，愿阿吉耶帕（Ājyapā）祖灵护我之西方，愿苏摩帕（Somapā）祖灵亦护我之北方。

Word by Word

• अग्निष्वात्ताः: Agniṣvātta Pitṛs
• अग्निष्वात्ताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्निष्वात्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• पितृगणाः: groups of Pitṛs
• पितृगणाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक) + गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—पितॄणां गणाः (groups of ancestors)

• प्राचीम्: the eastern (direction)
• प्राचीम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राची (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; दिक्-विशेषः (eastern direction)

• रक्षन्तु: may they protect
• रक्षन्तु: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• मे: my
• मे: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive) एकवचन; सर्वनाम (my)

• दिशम्: direction
• दिशम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थ (likewise)

• बर्हिषदः: Barhiṣad Pitṛs
• बर्हिषदः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बर्हिषद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• पान्तु: may they protect
• पान्तु: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद; अर्थे—रक्षन्तु (protect)

• याम्याम्: the southern (direction)
• याम्याम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: याम्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; दक्षिण-दिक् (southern direction)

• मे: my
• मे: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive) एकवचन

• पितरः: the ancestors
• पितरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक-क्रियाविशेषण (always)

• प्रतीचीम्: the western (direction)
• प्रतीचीम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रतीची (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; पश्चिम-दिक् (western direction)

• आज्यपाः: Ājyapā Pitṛs
• आज्यपाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आज्यप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• तद्वत्: likewise
• तद्वत्: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद्वत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तुलनार्थ (in the same way)

• उदीचीम्: the northern (direction)
• उदीचीम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उदीची (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; उत्तर-दिक् (northern direction)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अप्यर्थ (also)

• सोमपाः: Somapā Pitṛs
• सोमपाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सोमप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra, within a protective/ritual context)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Protective dik-rakṣā segment within/around śrāddha performance.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Cosmic order expressed as spatial protection; ancestors function as guardians when duly honored.

Vedantic Theme: Bandhu between microcosm (body/household space) and macrocosm (directions); dharmic harmony through right relationship with Pitṛs.

Application: Before rites, mentally establish a protective circle by invoking guardians in all directions; cultivate gratitude as ‘rakṣā’.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: cardinal directions/ritual mandala

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana śrāddha prayogas that assign protective roles to Pitṛs and deities in directions (general parallel)

Characters & Entities

• Pitris
• Agniṣvātta Pitṛs
• Barhiṣad Pitṛs
• Ājyapā Pitṛs
• Somapā Pitṛs

FAQs

What is the importance of invoking Pitṛs for the four directions in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames the Pitṛs as guardians of space—invoked to secure the quarters (east, south, west, north) so rites like Śrāddha and prayer proceed without obstacles and with ancestral blessing.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey after death in the Garuda Purana?

By emphasizing Pitṛ-support and protection, it aligns with the Garuda Purana’s broader teaching that ancestral rites and blessings aid the departed and sustain dharmic order for the living, reducing fear and impediments around death-related transitions.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Recite or remember this directional protection while beginning Śrāddha/tarpaṇa or daily worship, cultivating gratitude to ancestors and a disciplined, dharmic approach to family duties and ritual observance.