Shloka 30

Garuḍa’s Return to Vaikuṇṭha and the Comprehensive Inquiry into Death-Rites and the Preta’s Journey

Devanagari script

बन्धुमित्राण्यमित्राश्च क्षमापयन्ति तत्कथम् / तिलालोहं हिरण्यं च कर्पासं लवणं तथा

Transliteration

bandhumitrāṇyamitrāśca kṣamāpayanti tatkatham / tilālohaṃ hiraṇyaṃ ca karpāsaṃ lavaṇaṃ tathā

Translation

How, indeed, are relatives and friends—and even enemies—brought to forgiveness? It is through sacred offerings of sesame, iron, gold, cotton, and likewise salt.

Word by Word

• बन्धु: kinsmen, relatives
• बन्धु: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बन्धु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन (contextually: प्रथमा बहुवचन as subject)

• मित्राणि: friends
• मित्राणि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन (contextually: प्रथमा बहुवचन as subject)

• अमित्राः: enemies
• अमित्राः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• क्षमापयन्ति: they appease / cause forgiveness
• क्षमापयन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्षम् (धातु) + णिच् (causative)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; णिजन्त-क्रिया (causative: 'cause to forgive/appease')

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma/Prashna-vishaya (Object/Topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम (demonstrative)

• कथम्: how?
• कथम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय (interrogative adverb)

• तिलालोहम्: sesame and iron/metal
• तिलालोहम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिल (प्रातिपदिक) + लोह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (sesame and metal/iron)

• हिरण्यम्: gold
• हिरण्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हिरण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• कर्पासम्: cotton
• कर्पासम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्पास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (also possible नपुंसक; here treated as object)

• लवणम्: salt
• लवणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लवण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तथा: likewise, also
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/प्रकारार्थक-अव्यय (adverb: 'likewise/also')

Speaker

Garuda (Vinata-putra), questioning Lord Vishnu

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Antyeṣṭi/śrāddha preparatory context (implied within death-rite discourse)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dāna and śānti-offerings as means to obtain kṣamā (forgiveness) and reduce pāpa/ṛṇa in liminal rites.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-kṣaya through niṣkāma ritual action; purification of saṃskāra to support the jīva’s onward journey.

Application: Use charity/offerings with sincere repentance to repair relationships and to perform death-related duties without conflict or obstruction.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: gṛhya/śmaśāna-threshold (implied)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: dāna-prakaraṇa and śrāddha/antyeṣṭi questions-and-answers context (2.1.x); Garuda Purana: tiladāna/lohādāna merits in śrāddha-related sections (general)

Characters & Entities

• Bandhu (relatives)
• Mitra (friends)
• Amitra (enemies)

FAQs

What is the importance of offering sesame, iron, gold, cotton, and salt in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames these substances as ritual gifts used to secure appeasement—symbolically and ethically—so that social bonds (even enmity) are pacified through dana and prescribed offerings.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

In the Preta Kanda context, unresolved conflicts and obligations are treated as impediments; the verse points to specific offerings as a means of reconciliation and support for the departed’s onward journey through proper rites.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice reconciliation and charitable giving—especially in memory of the deceased—by supporting others with essential goods, while also repairing relationships and seeking forgiveness where harm was done.