Shloka 30

Dharma–Adharma Marks; Daśāha, Piṇḍa Formation, Śrāddha Calendar, Śayyā-dāna, and Sapiṇḍīkaraṇa Rules

Devanagari script

यदा पुष्पं प्रनष्टं हि तदा गर्भं न धारयेत् / आदराच्च ततो भूमौ तिलदर्भान्विनिः क्षिपेत्

Transliteration

yadā puṣpaṃ pranaṣṭaṃ hi tadā garbhaṃ na dhārayet / ādarācca tato bhūmau tiladarbhānviniḥ kṣipet

Translation

Wenn die „Blume“ wahrlich vergangen ist, soll man den Schoß nicht bewahren (d. h. den Fötus nicht aufbewahren). Dann soll man in ehrfürchtiger Haltung Sesamkörner und Darbha-Gras sorgfältig auf die Erde streuen.

Word by Word

• yadā: when
• yadā: Kāla (काल/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Temporal adverb (कालवाचक अव्यय)

• puṣpam: the flower
• puṣpam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṣpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा) or Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); here subject with pranaṣṭam

• pranaṣṭam: destroyed/lost
• pranaṣṭam: Visheshana (विशेषण/Adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-naś (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/कृत्), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with puṣpam

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) emphasis

• tadā: then
• tadā: Kāla (काल/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Temporal adverb (कालवाचक अव्यय)

• garbham: the embryo/pregnancy
• garbham: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: garbha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध निपात)

• dhārayet: should hold/maintain
• dhārayet: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dhṛ (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); Parasmaipada

• ādarāt: out of care/respect
• ādarāt: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ādara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन); used adverbially ‘out of respect/carefully’

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• tataḥ: thereafter
• tataḥ: Kramānvaya (क्रम/Sequence)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (अव्यय) meaning ‘thereupon/from that’

• bhūmau: on the ground
• bhūmau: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūmi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• tila-darbhān: sesame and darbha (grass)
• tila-darbhān: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tila (प्रातिपदिक) + darbha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन); इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः: tilāḥ ca darbhāḥ ca

• viniḥ: fully/indeed (particle)
• viniḥ: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: viniḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle/adverb (निपात/अव्यय); used as intensifier/marker (textual variant possible)

• kṣipet: should throw/scatter
• kṣipet: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṣip (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

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

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Contextually within immediate post-death/purity observances; exact day not specified in the verse.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: When life has ended, one should not preserve what is no longer viable; instead, perform prescribed purificatory offerings (tila-darbha) with reverence.

Vedantic Theme: Acceptance of impermanence (anityatā) and adherence to saṃskāra-dharma to harmonize grief with right action.

Application: In death-related contingencies, avoid improper retention/handling; follow ritual and ethical protocols with respect and cleanliness.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: household/ritual ground (bhūmi)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: purity rules and handling of remains; use of tila-darbha for śuddhi and preta-support

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Bhumi (Earth)
• Darbha (Kusha grass)

FAQs

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

This verse highlights that sesame and darbha are ritually potent materials; scattering them on the earth is a reverential act used in death-related rites to maintain sanctity and support proper observance of post-death procedures.

How does this verse relate to the Garuda Purana’s discussion of death rites?

Placed in Preta Kanda’s practical ritual instructions, it prescribes a specific action—casting tila and darbha on the ground—when the ‘life-bud’ has perished, aligning conduct with the text’s broader framework of correct antyeṣṭi and śrāddha observance.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Follow death-rite procedures with care and reverence, and consult qualified family priests/tradition-bearers for correct materials and steps—this verse emphasizes disciplined, respectful ritual action rather than haste or neglect.