Shloka 18

The Extent of Questions: Deathbed Rites, Kāla (Time), and Karma-Vipāka Rebirths

Devanagari script

एक एव तिलो दत्तो हेमद्रोणतिलैः समः / तर्पणे दानहोमेषु दत्तो भवति चाक्षयः

Transliteration

eka eva tilo datto hemadroṇatilaiḥ samaḥ / tarpaṇe dānahomeṣu datto bhavati cākṣayaḥ

Translation

إنّ حبّةَ سِمسِمٍ واحدةً إذا قُدِّمَتْ عُدِلَتْ في الفضلِ بمكيالٍ ذهبيّ (drona) مملوءٍ بالسِّمسِم. فإذا قُدِّم السِّمسِم في التَّرْپَنَة (tarpaṇa) والصدقةِ وقُربانِ النار (homa)، صار العطاءُ غيرَ فانٍ في ثمرته (akṣaya).

Word by Word

• ekaḥ: one
• ekaḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• eva: only; indeed
• eva: Nipata (Emphasis/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक निपात

• tilaḥ: a sesame seed
• tilaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• dattaḥ: given
• dattaḥ: Karta (Subject complement/कर्तृसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: datta (कृदन्त; √dā दा + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (given)

• hemadroṇatilaiḥ: with sesame worth a droṇa of gold (as a standard)
• hemadroṇatilaiḥ: Upamāna/Pramāṇa (Standard of comparison/उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hema + droṇa + tila (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (hema-droṇa-tila = sesame (measure) of a droṇa of gold; idiomatic: sesame equal to a droṇa of gold)

• samaḥ: equal
• samaḥ: Pradhana-visheshana (Predicate adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (equal)

• tarpaṇe: in tarpaṇa (libation rite)
• tarpaṇe: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tarpaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन

• dānahomeṣu: in gifts and fire-offerings
• dānahomeṣu: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dāna + homa (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, बहुवचन; द्वन्द्वः (dāna-homa = gifts and oblations)

• dattaḥ: given
• dattaḥ: Karta (Subject complement/कर्तृसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: datta (कृदन्त; √dā दा + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (given)

• bhavati: becomes
• bhavati: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (conjunction)

• akṣayaḥ: inexhaustible
• akṣayaḥ: Pradhana-visheshana (Predicate adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: akṣaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (imperishable/inexhaustible)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Small but properly offered gifts can yield akṣaya-phala (imperishable merit) when aligned with śāstric contexts (tarpaṇa, dāna, homa).

Vedantic Theme: Intention and right context (saṅkalpa/vidhi) magnify karmic fruit; karma-yoga principle that sincerity and correctness matter more than quantity.

Application: Encourage consistent, affordable ritual giving: offer sesame in tarpaṇa, donate within means, and participate in homa with devotion; prioritize regularity and purity of intent.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.2.16-2.2.17 on tilā’s purity and sin-burning; Garuda Purana śrāddha passages praising tilodaka and tiladāna

Characters & Entities

• Pitris

FAQs

What is the importance of tila (sesame) in Garuda Purana death rituals?

This verse states that even a single sesame seed offered in rites like tarpaṇa, dāna, and homa yields immense merit—comparable to a large golden measure of sesame—and becomes akṣaya (imperishable) in result.

How does this verse relate to helping the departed (preta) or Pitṛs?

By highlighting tarpaṇa as a key context for offering tila, the verse underscores that small, sincere offerings made for the ancestors carry enduring spiritual efficacy, supporting Pitṛ-related rites central to the Preta Kanda.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

During śrāddha or tarpaṇa, offer tila with devotion and correctness; even modest means can produce lasting merit when the act is aligned with dharma and performed as a dedicated offering.