Shloka 21

Śrāddha’s Cosmic Reach and Kāla-Nirṇaya (Sacred Timings): Amāvāsyā, Nakṣatra-Yoga, Tīrtha, and Minimum Offerings

Devanagari script

पितृगीतांस् तथैवात्र श्लोकांस् तांश् च शृणुष्व मे श्रुत्वा तथैव भवता भाव्यं तत्रादृतात्मना

Transliteration

pitṛgītāṃs tathaivātra ślokāṃs tāṃś ca śṛṇuṣva me śrutvā tathaiva bhavatā bhāvyaṃ tatrādṛtātmanā

Translation

现在就在此处，从我这里聆听那些赞颂祖灵的圣偈——皮特里所唱的偈颂。听过之后，你也当在那一修持中以恭敬专注之心依之而行。

Word by Word

• पितृगीतान्: sung by the ancestors
• पितृगीतान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पितृ + गीत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative), बहुवचन (plural); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (पितृभिः गीतान्)

• तथा: thus
• तथा: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: thus)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-निपात (emphasis)

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb: here)

• श्लोकान्: verses
• श्लोकान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), बहुवचन

• तान्: those
• तान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

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

• शृणुष्व: listen
• शृणुष्व: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (singular), आत्मनेपद

• मे: to me / of me
• मे: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/चतुर्थी-एकवचन (Genitive/Dative singular: of me/to me)

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund)

• तथा: thus
• तथा: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (thus)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-निपात

• भवता: by you
• भवता: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन (singular)

• भाव्यम्: should be done/should be acted
• भाव्यम्: Kriya (Obligation/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्/यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive: to be done), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेय (predicate obligation)

• तत्र: there/in that matter
• तत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (there)

• आदृतात्मना: with a respectful mind; being reverent
• आदृतात्मना: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आदृत + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि-समासः (आदृतः आत्मा यस्य सः)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (in instruction to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Transmission of Pitṛ-stuti verses and exhortation to practice the corresponding observance with reverence

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: compassionate

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Sacred verses are not merely to be heard but to be embodied through reverent conduct aligned with the taught observance.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Treat scriptural listening as a commitment: take one concrete practice from study (charity, remembrance rites, service) and implement it consistently.

Vishishtadvaita: Śravaṇa leading to anuṣṭhāna (practice) reflects devotion expressed through obedient service within Bhagavān’s ordained dharma.

Vaishnava Theology

Bhakti Type: Dasya

Characters & Entities

• Pitrs (ancestral fathers)

FAQs

What is the significance of Pitṛ-gītā (hymns to the ancestors) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse frames the Pitṛ-gītā as authoritative sacred recitation and links hearing it to proper practice—honoring the Pitṛs through reverent observance.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the right approach to ritual instruction here?

He emphasizes śravaṇa (listening) followed by anuṣṭhāna (doing accordingly), insisting that the practice must be performed with an attentive and respectful disposition (ādṛta-ātman).

The theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Even in Pitṛ-focused sections, the Vishnu Purana situates dharma and ritual order within a Vishnu-governed cosmic sovereignty—right rites are part of sustaining universal order under the Supreme Reality.