Shloka 7

Yamamārga, Antyeṣṭi-vidhi, and Daśāhika Piṇḍa-dāna

Road to Yama and Ten-Day Offerings

Devanagari script

तिलान्दर्भान्विकीर्याथ मुखे स्वर्णं विनिः क्षिपेत् / तुलसींसन्निधौ कृत्वा शालग्रामशिलां तथा

Transliteration

tilāndarbhānvikīryātha mukhe svarṇaṃ viniḥ kṣipet / tulasīṃsannidhau kṛtvā śālagrāmaśilāṃ tathā

Translation

Then one should scatter sesame seeds and darbha grass, and place gold into the mouth of the departed. This should be done in the presence of tulasī, and likewise with the sacred Śālagrāma stone.

Word by Word

• तिलान्: sesame seeds
• तिलान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन

• दर्भान्: darbha grass
• दर्भान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दर्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन

• विकीर्य: having scattered
• विकीर्य: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + कीर् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), 'वि-कीर्' (to scatter); पूर्वक्रिया (having scattered)

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (Sequencing)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (then/thereafter)

• मुखे: in the mouth
• मुखे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• स्वर्णम्: gold
• स्वर्णम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• विनिः: properly/fully (particle)
• विनिः: Sambandha (Modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विनिः (अव्यय/उपसर्गसदृश)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय/निपात (intensifier/particle; used with 'क्षिपेत्')

• क्षिपेत्: should place/throw
• क्षिपेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्षिप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• तुलसीम्: tulasi (holy basil)
• तुलसीम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तुलसी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• सन्निधौ: in the presence (nearby)
• सन्निधौ: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्निधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• कृत्वा: having done/placed
• कृत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive); पूर्वक्रिया (having done/placed)

• शालग्रामशिलाम्: a śālagrāma stone
• शालग्रामशिलाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शालग्रामशिला (प्रातिपदिक; शालग्राम + शिला)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुषप्रायः (शालग्रामस्य शिला)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Manner/Addition)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (thus/also)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vainateya)

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Preta (departed individual)

Timing: At the deathbed/immediately after death as part of antyeṣṭi preliminaries

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Sanctifying death with Vaiṣṇava symbols (tulasī, Śālagrāma) and Vedic ritual substances supports auspicious passage.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara-anugraha (grace through devotion) alongside karma-sādhana (merit via prescribed acts).

Application: Scatter tila and darbha; place gold in the mouth; perform these acts near tulasī and in the presence of Śālagrāma.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: household shrine area / bedside altar

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana sections praising tulasī and Śālagrāma as liberative aids at death; Garuda Purana antyeṣṭi instructions on placing sacred items and using darbha/tila

Characters & Entities

• Tulasi
• Shalagrama
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of placing sesame and darbha in Garuda Purana death rituals?

This verse prescribes tilā (sesame) and darbha as ritual purifiers and sanctifying substances used during last rites, marking the act as a dharmic saṁskāra for the departed.

Why does the verse mention placing gold in the mouth of the deceased?

The instruction to place gold (suvarṇa) in the mouth is presented as a rite connected with auspicious passage and sacred preparation of the body, performed as part of the Preta-kārya procedures described in this chapter.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If following traditional rites, consult a qualified priest and family tradition: keep the atmosphere sattvic (tulasī presence, Viṣṇu remembrance via Śālagrāma/Viṣṇu symbols), and perform the rites with reverence rather than as mere formality.