Shloka 2
अस्मत्कुले मृता ये च गतिर्येषां न विद्यते / आवाहयिष्येतान्सर्वान् दर्भपृष्ठे तिलोदकैः
asmatkule mṛtā ye ca gatiryeṣāṃ na vidyate / āvāhayiṣyetānsarvān darbhapṛṣṭhe tilodakaiḥ
All who have died in our lineage and for whom no proper gati, no onward passage, is found—one should invoke them all, seating them upon darbha grass and offering sesame-water (tila-udaka).
Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa, Vinatā-putra)
Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni
Ritual Type: Parvana
Beneficiary: Pitr
Timing: Within śrāddha sequence, during āvāhana/tarpaṇa portion
Concept: One should ritually include lineage members who died without proper rites or whose ‘gati’ is obstructed, invoking them with darbha and sesame-water.
Vedantic Theme: Compassionate dharma toward ancestors; karma’s continuity across generations and the remedial power of prescribed rites.
Application: In śrāddha saṅkalpa, explicitly remember forgotten/unknown ancestors; offer tilodaka and seat them on darbha with focused intention.
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: ritual space (śrāddha-vedi/kuśa seat)
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.85.3-4 (father/mother/maternal-grandfather lineages).; Garuda Purana śrāddha sections on tilodaka and darbha as pitṛ-priya.
FAQs
This verse presents tilodaka offered on darbha as a ritual means to call and support departed relatives—especially those believed to lack proper post-death support—within the framework of pitṛ-karmas.
By stating that some deceased may be “without gati,” it implies that post-death progress is influenced by dharmic rites; invocation and offerings are portrayed as aids that can benefit such departed beings.
Perform śrāddha/tarpaṇa with sincerity (as per one’s tradition and guidance), remembering neglected or unknown ancestors and dedicating offerings for their welfare and peace.