Shloka 6

Dāna for the Preta: Supreme Gifts, Yama’s Pacification, and Viṣṇu-Smaraṇa at the Time of Death

Devanagari script

तिला गावो महादानं महापातकनाशनम् / तद्द्वयं दीयते विप्रे नान्यवर्णे कदाचन

Transliteration

tilā gāvo mahādānaṃ mahāpātakanāśanam / taddvayaṃ dīyate vipre nānyavarṇe kadācana

Translation

Sesam und Kühe sind höchste Gaben, die selbst die schwersten Sünden vernichten. Diese beiden sollen einem Brāhmaṇa gegeben werden und niemals, zu keiner Zeit, jemandem einer anderen Varṇa.

Word by Word

• तिलाः: sesame seeds
• तिलाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• गावः: cows
• गावः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• महादानम्: a great gift
• महादानम्: Pradhāna-nāma (Predicate nominal/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा-दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (महद् दानम्)

• महापातकनाशनम्: destroyer of great sins
• महापातकनाशनम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा-पातक-नाशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (महापातकस्य नाशनम्)

• तद्द्वयम्: that pair (these two)
• तद्द्वयम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद्-द्वय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः द्विगुः (द्वयम् = twofold set)

• दीयते: is given
• दीयते: Kriyā (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपदम्; कर्मणि प्रयोगः (passive)

• विप्रे: to a Brahmin
• विप्रे: Sampradāna (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण) एकवचन; अर्थतः ‘विप्राय’ इति चतुर्थी-भावः (recipient) सम्भवः

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (निषेध/negation particle)

• अन्यवर्णे: in/for another caste
• अन्यवर्णे: Adhikaraṇa (Locative domain/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य-वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (अन्यः वर्णः)

• कदाचन: ever/at any time
• कदाचन: Kāla-kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Time adverb/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कदाचन (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (कालवाचक/indefinite time adverb)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Tila-dāna and go-dāna are ‘mahādāna’ and destroy even great sins; they are to be given specifically to brāhmaṇas.

Vedantic Theme: Karma purification through prescribed dharma; emphasis on adhikāra (eligibility) and proper channeling of merit.

Application: If following traditional injunctions, prioritize high-impact giving (sustenance, livelihood) and ensure appropriateness/competence of recipients; maintain sincerity and non-harm.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: go-dāna/tila-dāna praises (general); Garuda Purana: mahāpātaka-nāśana measures (general)

Characters & Entities

• Brahmana (Vipra)

FAQs

What is the importance of sesame (til) and cow (go) donation in the Garuda Purana?

This verse calls til-dāna and go-dāna “mahādāna,” stating they are capable of destroying even mahāpātakas (grave sins), making them especially valued in rites connected with purification and post-death observances.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana teachings on after-death rites?

In the Preta Kanda context, gifts (dāna) are presented as supports for merit and purification; this verse specifies two high-merit donations and emphasizes proper recipient selection (vipra), which is a recurring rule in śrāddha and related ritual frameworks.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice purposeful charity: when giving ritual charities like sesame or supporting cow-care, do so with discernment—offer to qualified, ethical recipients (or institutions aligned with dharmic intent) and with a sincere aim of purification and responsibility.