Shloka 129

Dāna as Prāyaścitta; Deathbed Gifts; Antyeṣṭi Procedures; Nārāyaṇa-bali for Untimely Deaths

Devanagari script

शङ्खे वा ताम्रपात्रे वा अलाभे मृन्मये पि वा / तिलोदकं समादाय सर्वोषधिमसन्वितम्

Transliteration

śaṅkhe vā tāmrapātre vā alābhe mṛnmaye pi vā / tilodakaṃ samādāya sarvoṣadhimasanvitam

Translation

Taking sesame-water (tilodaka) in a conch or a copper vessel—or, if those are unavailable, even in an earthen pot—one should offer it without mixing in any herbs or medicinal substances.

Word by Word

• शङ्खे: in a conch
• शङ्खे: Adhikaraṇa (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्ख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Samuccaya/Vikalpa (Alternative connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक (particle: or)

• ताम्रपात्रे: in a copper vessel
• ताम्रपात्रे: Adhikaraṇa (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ताम्रपात्र (प्रातिपदिक: ताम्र + पात्र)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (ताम्रस्य पात्रम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Samuccaya/Vikalpa (Alternative connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक (or)

• अलाभे: in case of non-availability
• अलाभे: Hetu/Adhikaraṇa (Condition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अलाभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन (अलाभे = in absence/non-availability)

• मृन्मये: earthen (made of clay)
• मृन्मये: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृन्मय (प्रातिपदिक: मृद् + मयट्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन (agreeing with पात्रे understood)

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Samuccaya (Connector/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक (particle: also/even)

• वा: or
• वा: Samuccaya/Vikalpa (Alternative connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक (or)

• तिलोदकम्: sesame-water
• तिलोदकम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिल (प्रातिपदिक) + उदक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (तिलयुक्तम् उदकम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• समादाय: having taken
• समादाय: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम् + आ + दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); अव्ययभाव (having taken)

• सर्वोषधिम्: all herbs (mixture of herbs)
• सर्वोषधिम्: Karma (Object/Content)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + ओषधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (सर्वाः ओषधयः यस्मिन्/सर्वोषधिः; here accusative singular as ingredient-set); स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• असन्-वितम्: combined/associated with
• असन्-वितम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: असन् (प्रातिपदिक) + वित (वि+दा/वित्?; here ‘समन्वित’ sense)
• Form: तत्पुरुष/उपपदसमासार्थे; नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (agreeing with तिलोदकम्)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: During tarpaṇa/tilodaka preparation within śrāddha

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual validity depends on prescribed substance and purity; permissible substitutions for vessels exist, but the offering should remain unmixed and simple.

Vedantic Theme: Śauca (purity) and niyama; external simplicity supporting inner sincerity.

Application: Use conch/copper if available; otherwise clean earthenware; prepare sesame-water plainly without adding herbs or other admixtures.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: śrāddha setting near offering vessels

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: tilodaka and vessel rules in śrāddha context (adjacent to 2.4.128, 2.4.130)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Preta
• Pitris

FAQs

What is the importance of tilodaka in Garuda Purana death rituals?

This verse emphasizes the correct, simple preparation of tilodaka—sesame-water offered in an appropriate vessel—indicating that purity and rule-based offering matter more than additives.

Why does the verse specify conch, copper, or earthen vessels?

It sets an order of preferred ritual containers (conch/copper), while allowing an earthen pot when those are unavailable, ensuring the rite can still be performed according to dharma.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing śrāddha/tilodaka, keep the offering straightforward and traditional—use a clean suitable vessel and avoid unnecessary mixtures—prioritizing sincerity and procedural purity.