Shloka 19

Sūrya-pūjā-vidhi: Gateway Deities, Lotus-Mandala, Nyāsa, Navagrahas, and Arghya

Devanagari script

तिलतण्डुलसंयुक्तं रक्तचन्दनचर्चितम् / गन्धोदकेन संमिश्रं पुष्पधूपसमन्वितम्

Transliteration

tilataṇḍulasaṃyuktaṃ raktacandanacarcitam / gandhodakena saṃmiśraṃ puṣpadhūpasamanvitam

Translation

Mixed with sesame and rice, anointed with red sandalwood, blended with fragrant water, and accompanied by flowers and incense.

Word by Word

• तिल: sesame
• तिल: Visheshana (Qualifier in compound)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (masculine, stem used as compound member)

• तण्डुल: rice grains
• तण्डुल: Visheshana (Qualifier in compound)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तण्डुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (masculine, stem used as compound member)

• संयुक्तम्: mixed/combined (with sesame and rice)
• संयुक्तम्: Visheshana (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + युज् (धातु) → संयुक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (past participle, neuter nom/acc sg); समास: तिल-तण्डुल- (इतरेतर/समाहार-भावे) + संयुक्त

• रक्त: red
• रक्त: Visheshana (Qualifier in compound)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक (adjectival stem used in compound)

• चन्दन: sandalwood
• चन्दन: Visheshya (Head in compound)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (compound member)

• चर्चितम्: smeared/anointed
• चर्चितम्: Visheshana (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चर्च् (धातु) → चर्चित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (past participle, neuter nom/acc sg); समास: रक्त-चन्दन-चर्चित (instrumental sense: 'smeared with red sandal')

• गन्ध: fragrance; scented
• गन्ध: Visheshana (Qualifier in compound)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (compound member)

• उदकेन: with scented water
• उदकेन: Karana (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उदक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन (neuter, instrumental singular); समास: गन्ध-उदक (scented water)

• संमिश्रम्: well-mixed
• संमिश्रम्: Visheshana (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + मिश्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (neuter nom/acc sg)

• पुष्प: flowers
• पुष्प: Visheshana (Qualifier in compound)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (compound member)

• धूप: incense
• धूप: Visheshana (Qualifier in compound)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (compound member)

• समन्वितम्: accompanied by flowers and incense
• समन्वितम्: Visheshana (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + अन्वि (धातु) → समन्वित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (past participle, neuter nom/acc sg); समास: पुष्प-धूप-समन्वित (endowed with flowers and incense)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda / Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Bhakti expressed through saṃskṛta-dravya (well-prepared substances) and sensory offerings as symbols of inner purity.

Vedantic Theme: External upacāra supporting internal sattva and ekāgratā (one-pointedness).

Application: Prepare offerings cleanly: sesame and rice for auspiciousness, red sandal paste for tejas, fragrant water, flowers and incense for completeness of worship.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual space (altar/puja platform)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.39 (arghya/puja materials sequence)

FAQs

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

This verse highlights sesame and rice as core components of ritual offerings, indicating nourishment, sanctity, and traditional śrāddha suitability when preparing items for ancestral/post-death rites.

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

By specifying the proper preparation of offerings (with fragrance, sandalwood, flowers, and incense), the verse supports the broader Garuda Purana framework where correct rites aid the departed and uphold dharma in post-death observances.

What is a practical application of this verse today?

When performing śrāddha or related memorial rites, prepare offerings with clean ingredients and traditional accompaniments (sesame, rice, fragrant water, sandalwood, flowers, incense) to preserve ritual intent and reverence.