Shloka 129

Dāna as Prāyaścitta; Deathbed Gifts; Antyeṣṭi Procedures; Nārāyaṇa-bali for Untimely Deaths

Devanagari script

शङ्खे वा ताम्रपात्रे वा अलाभे मृन्मये पि वा / तिलोदकं समादाय सर्वोषधिमसन्वितम्

Transliteration

śaṅkhe vā tāmrapātre vā alābhe mṛnmaye pi vā / tilodakaṃ samādāya sarvoṣadhimasanvitam

Translation

يُؤخَذُ ماءُ السِّمسم (tilodaka) في صَدَفةِ الشَّنْخَة أو في إناءٍ من النحاس؛ فإن تعذّر فحتى في إناءٍ فخّاري—ويُقدَّمُ دون خلطِ أيِّ أعشابٍ أو موادّ دوائية.

Word by Word

• शङ्खे: in a conch
• शङ्खे: Adhikaraṇa (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्ख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Samuccaya/Vikalpa (Alternative connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक (particle: or)

• ताम्रपात्रे: in a copper vessel
• ताम्रपात्रे: Adhikaraṇa (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ताम्रपात्र (प्रातिपदिक: ताम्र + पात्र)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (ताम्रस्य पात्रम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Samuccaya/Vikalpa (Alternative connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक (or)

• अलाभे: in case of non-availability
• अलाभे: Hetu/Adhikaraṇa (Condition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अलाभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन (अलाभे = in absence/non-availability)

• मृन्मये: earthen (made of clay)
• मृन्मये: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृन्मय (प्रातिपदिक: मृद् + मयट्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन (agreeing with पात्रे understood)

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Samuccaya (Connector/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक (particle: also/even)

• वा: or
• वा: Samuccaya/Vikalpa (Alternative connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक (or)

• तिलोदकम्: sesame-water
• तिलोदकम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिल (प्रातिपदिक) + उदक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (तिलयुक्तम् उदकम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• समादाय: having taken
• समादाय: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम् + आ + दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); अव्ययभाव (having taken)

• सर्वोषधिम्: all herbs (mixture of herbs)
• सर्वोषधिम्: Karma (Object/Content)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + ओषधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (सर्वाः ओषधयः यस्मिन्/सर्वोषधिः; here accusative singular as ingredient-set); स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• असन्-वितम्: combined/associated with
• असन्-वितम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: असन् (प्रातिपदिक) + वित (वि+दा/वित्?; here ‘समन्वित’ sense)
• Form: तत्पुरुष/उपपदसमासार्थे; नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (agreeing with तिलोदकम्)

Speaker

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

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: During tarpaṇa/tilodaka preparation within śrāddha

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual validity depends on prescribed substance and purity; permissible substitutions for vessels exist, but the offering should remain unmixed and simple.

Vedantic Theme: Śauca (purity) and niyama; external simplicity supporting inner sincerity.

Application: Use conch/copper if available; otherwise clean earthenware; prepare sesame-water plainly without adding herbs or other admixtures.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: śrāddha setting near offering vessels

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: tilodaka and vessel rules in śrāddha context (adjacent to 2.4.128, 2.4.130)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Preta
• Pitris

FAQs

What is the importance of tilodaka in Garuda Purana death rituals?

This verse emphasizes the correct, simple preparation of tilodaka—sesame-water offered in an appropriate vessel—indicating that purity and rule-based offering matter more than additives.

Why does the verse specify conch, copper, or earthen vessels?

It sets an order of preferred ritual containers (conch/copper), while allowing an earthen pot when those are unavailable, ensuring the rite can still be performed according to dharma.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing śrāddha/tilodaka, keep the offering straightforward and traditional—use a clean suitable vessel and avoid unnecessary mixtures—prioritizing sincerity and procedural purity.