Shloka 41

Akālamṛtyu: Preta-state Categories and the Nārāyaṇa-bali / Ekoddiṣṭa Remedy

Devanagari script

ताम्रपात्रं तिलैः पूर्णं सहिरण्यं सदक्षिणम् / दद्याद्ब्राह्मणमुख्याय विधियुक्तं खगेश्वर

Transliteration

tāmrapātraṃ tilaiḥ pūrṇaṃ sahiraṇyaṃ sadakṣiṇam / dadyādbrāhmaṇamukhyāya vidhiyuktaṃ khageśvara

Translation

O Khageśvara (Garuda), man gebe einem hervorragenden Brahmanen, dem Ritus gemäß, ein Kupfergefäß, gefüllt mit Sesamsamen, zusammen mit Gold und Dakṣiṇā (Ehrengabe).

Word by Word

• ताम्रपात्रम्: copper vessel
• ताम्रपात्रम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ताम्रपात्र (प्रातिपदिक; ताम्र + पात्र)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; Accusative singular

• तिलैः: with sesame seeds
• तिलैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; Instrumental plural

• पूर्णम्: filled
• पूर्णम्: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; agrees with ताम्रपात्रम्

• स-हिरण्यम्: together with gold
• स-हिरण्यम्: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (उपसर्ग/सह-भाव) + हिरण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; agrees with ताम्रपात्रम्; ‘with gold’

• स-दक्षिणम्: with honorarium/fee
• स-दक्षिणम्: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (उपसर्ग/सह-भाव) + दक्षिणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; agrees with ताम्रपात्रम्; ‘with dakṣiṇā/fee’

• दद्यात्: should give
• दद्यात्: क्रिया (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; Parasmaipada

• ब्राह्मणमुख्याय: to a foremost Brahmin
• ब्राह्मणमुख्याय: सम्प्रदान (Sampradāna/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मणमुख्य (प्रातिपदिक; ब्राह्मण + मुख्य)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; Dative singular

• विधि-युक्तम्: in accordance with rule
• विधि-युक्तम्: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक) + युक्त (प्रातिपदिक; √युज्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; agrees with ताम्रपात्रम्

• खगेश्वर: O lord of birds (Garuda)
• खगेश्वर: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खगेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक; खग + ईश्वर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Dāna-concluding segment of the śrāddha sequence, after offerings/tarpaṇa preparations.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Prescribed dāna: copper vessel filled with sesame, with gold and dakṣiṇā, given properly to a worthy brāhmaṇa.

Vedantic Theme: Dāna as niṣkāma-karma: offering with right recipient and right method purifies and yields subtle merit.

Application: In śrāddha contexts, give tila-filled copper vessel plus hiraṇya and dakṣiṇā to a qualified brāhmaṇa, observing procedural correctness (vidhi).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: ritual gifting space (near śrāddha pavilion)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.40.39 (tilodaka/tila preparation); Garuda Purana 2.40.40 (dāna items set)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Brahmin

FAQs

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

This verse prescribes a tila-filled copper vessel given with gold and dakṣiṇā as a ritually valid dāna, indicating sesame’s key role in śrāddha-related offerings and merit-making acts connected with post-death rites.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey after death in the Garuda Purana?

In the Preta Kanda context, such properly performed gifts (dāna) are taught as supports to dharma and śrāddha observance, which the text links with easing the preta’s difficult post-death condition through meritorious rites done by the living.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If observing śrāddha or memorial rites, give charity in a disciplined way—offer meaningful items with due honorarium to a qualified priest or learned person, and prioritize correctness (vidhi) and sincerity over display.