Shloka 131

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

Devanagari script

यमोद्देशेतिलांल्लौहं ततो दद्याच्च दक्षिणाम् / एवं विष्णुबलिं दत्त्वा यथाशक्त्या विधानतः

Transliteration

yamoddeśetilāṃllauhaṃ tato dadyācca dakṣiṇām / evaṃ viṣṇubaliṃ dattvā yathāśaktyā vidhānataḥ

Translation

At the place (or in the rite) designated for Yama, one should offer sesame seeds and iron, and then give the priestly fee (dakṣiṇā). Thus, having presented the Viṣṇu-bali offering, one should perform it according to one’s capacity and in the prescribed manner.

Word by Word

• यम-उद्देशे: in the rite addressed to Yama
• यम-उद्देशे: Adhikaraṇa (Context/occasion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यम (प्रातिपदिक) + उद्देश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (यमस्य उद्देशः); पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तिलान्: sesame seeds
• तिलान्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• लौहम्: iron (article)
• लौहम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लौह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रमवाचक (then)

• दद्यात्: should give
• दद्यात्: Kriyā (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (and)

• दक्षिणाम्: a fee/donation
• दक्षिणाम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्षिणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (thus)

• विष्णुबलिम्: Viṣṇu-offering (bali)
• विष्णुबलिम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक) + बलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (विष्णोः बलिः); पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• दत्त्वा: having given
• दत्त्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); अव्ययभाव (having given)

• यथा: according to
• यथा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (according to)

• शक्त्या: with one's ability
• शक्त्या: Karaṇa (Measure/means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• विधानतः: as per the prescribed method
• विधानतः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विधान (प्रातिपदिक) + तस् (तद्धित, अव्यय)
• Form: तद्धितान्त-अव्यय (तस्); प्रकारवाचक (according to the procedure)

Speaker

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

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Yama-designated segment and concluding Viṣṇu-bali within śrāddha sequence

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Appeasing/acknowledging Yama through tila and iron dāna with dakṣiṇā, and completing the rite with Viṣṇu-bali according to śāstra and one’s means.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as cosmic governance (Yama) and grace-oriented protection (Viṣṇu); niyama with yathāśakti principle.

Application: Offer sesame and iron at the Yama-designated segment; give dakṣiṇā; perform Viṣṇu-bali properly, scaling gifts to capacity without abandoning essentials.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: ritual designation within śrāddha ground

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: Yama-related dānas (tila, loha) and Viṣṇu-bali within śrāddha/antyeṣṭi adjuncts (2.4.127–131)

Characters & Entities

• Yama
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of offering sesame and iron in Yama-related rites in the Garuda Purana?

This verse directs tila (sesame) and lauha (iron) as specific ritual gifts connected with Yama’s domain, followed by dakṣiṇā—indicating a prescribed, merit-oriented act within preta-rites.

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

In the Preta Kanda context, such offerings are part of the structured support-rites performed by the living for the departed, emphasizing correct procedure (vidhānataḥ) and timely giving (dāna/dakṣiṇā) associated with Yama’s sphere.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform remembrance/śrāddha-related duties with sincerity, follow proper guidelines, and give charity and dakṣiṇā within your means (yathāśakti), keeping the act aligned with dharma rather than display.