Shloka 53

Yamamārga, Antyeṣṭi-vidhi, and Daśāhika Piṇḍa-dāna

Road to Yama and Ten-Day Offerings

Devanagari script

दाहस्यानन्तरं कार्यं पुत्रैः स्नानं सचैलकम् / तिलोदकं ततो दद्यान्नामगोत्रेण तिष्ठतु

Transliteration

dāhasyānantaraṃ kāryaṃ putraiḥ snānaṃ sacailakam / tilodakaṃ tato dadyānnāmagotreṇa tiṣṭhatu

Translation

بعد اكتمال الحرق، ينبغي للأبناء أن يغتسلوا وهم لا يزالون بملابسهم. ثم يقدّمون ماءً ممزوجًا بالسمسم (تيلودَكا)، ويكون التقديم بذكر اسم المتوفّى وغوترته (سلالته).

Word by Word

• दाहस्य: of the cremation
• दाहस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दाह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी एकवचन

• अनन्तरम्: immediately after
• अनन्तरम्: Adhikarana (Temporal/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; कालवाचक अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः (afterwards)

• कार्यम्: is to be done
• कार्यम्: Karya (Obligation/कार्य)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + यत् (कृत्प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (यत्/ण्यम्—gerundive), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; विधेय-भावः (to be done)

• पुत्रैः: by the sons
• पुत्रैः: Kartr-karana (Agent-instrument/कर्तृ-करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया) बहुवचन; करण/कर्तृसहकार (by the sons)

• स्नानम्: bathing
• स्नानम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; कार्यम् इत्यस्य विधेय-नाम (the act to be done)

• सचैलकम्: with clothes/on with garments
• सचैलकम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (उपसर्ग/सह) + चैलक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; अव्ययीभाव-समासः (चैलकेन सह)

• तिलोदकम्: water with sesame
• तिलोदकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिल (प्रातिपदिक) + उदक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (तिलयुक्तम् उदकम्)

• ततः: then
• ततः: Adhikarana (Temporal/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रमसूचक (then)

• दद्यात्: should give/offer
• दद्यात्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• नामगोत्रेण: with (his) name and gotra
• नामगोत्रेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाम (प्रातिपदिक) + गोत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया एकवचन; द्वन्द्व-समासः (नाम च गोत्रं च) — instrumental ‘with name and lineage’

• तिष्ठतु: let it/let him remain/stand
• तिष्ठतु: Kriya (Injunctive/आज्ञा)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

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

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Immediately after cremation: first snāna (sachailaka), then tilodaka offering with nāma-gotra.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Purification and precise intention (saṅkalpa via name-gotra) are essential in post-death rites; dharma is enacted through bodily discipline.

Vedantic Theme: Kriyā as support for inner steadiness; recognition of embodied impermanence while maintaining order (ṛta/dharma).

Application: After cremation, perform prescribed bath (as per tradition), then offer sesame-water while clearly stating the deceased’s name and gotra.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: ritual bathing site

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: tilodaka and naming conventions in śrāddha context (adjacent verses in 2.15)

Characters & Entities

• Pitris

FAQs

What is the importance of offering tilodaka after cremation in the Garuda Purana?

This verse prescribes tilodaka (sesame-mixed water) immediately after cremation as a formal ritual offering, made with the deceased’s name and gotra, affirming the rite’s intention and directing the offering correctly within ancestral (Pitri) observances.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

While it does not describe the journey directly, it establishes the immediate post-cremation duties that support the deceased’s transition by properly completing prescribed rites, which the Preta Kanda frames as essential steps in the post-death process.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform post-cremation rites with clarity and correctness—bathe as prescribed, offer tilodaka, and state the deceased’s identifying details (name and gotra) to keep the ritual intentional, respectful, and tradition-aligned.