Shloka 152

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

Devanagari script

सप्तधान्यं क्षितिर्गाव एकैकं पावनं स्मृतम् / तिलपात्रं ततो दद्यात्पददानं तथैव च

Transliteration

saptadhānyaṃ kṣitirgāva ekaikaṃ pāvanaṃ smṛtam / tilapātraṃ tato dadyātpadadānaṃ tathaiva ca

Translation

The seven kinds of grain, the gift of land, and a cow—each is remembered as purifying. Thereafter one should also give a vessel of sesame, and likewise the gift of footwear for the departed.

Word by Word

• सप्तधान्यम्: seven kinds of grain
• सप्तधान्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सप्त (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + धान्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (सप्त + धान्यम्)

• क्षितिः: earth/land
• क्षितिः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षिति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• गावः: cows
• गावः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन

• एकैकम्: each one (individually)
• एकैकम्: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + एक (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; अव्ययीभावः (एक-एकम् = one by one/each)

• पावनम्: purifying
• पावनम्: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पावन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• स्मृतम्: is said/considered
• स्मृतम्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) → स्मृत (कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्तः (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोगे ‘is said/considered’

• तिलपात्रम्: a vessel of sesame
• तिलपात्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिल (प्रातिपदिक) + पात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (तिलस्य पात्रम्)

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषणम् (thereafter/then)

• दद्यात्: should give
• दद्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• पददानम्: gift of footwear (shoes)
• पददानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक) + दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पदानां दानम्)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषणम् (likewise)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपातः (emphasis)

• च: and
• च: Connector (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-निपातः (conjunction)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: During preta-śrāddha sequence (post-death rites as prescribed)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dāna (gifts) as śuddhi (purification) and as support for the departed in śrāddha-related rites.

Vedantic Theme: Karma (ritual action) purifies the antaḥkaraṇa and sustains dharmic order; compassion expressed as duty.

Application: Offer prescribed śrāddha-dānas according to capacity—grains, land, cow, tila in a vessel, and footwear—ensuring sincerity and proper recipients.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.4.153 (Vaiṣṇava śrāddha for preta-mukti); Garuda Purana 2.4.154 (puttalaka and cremation rite); Garuda Purana 2.4.155–156 (prāyaścitta and substitutes)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Preta
• Pitris

FAQs

What is the importance of dāna (charitable gifting) in Garuda Purana death rituals?

This verse states that specific gifts—seven grains, land, and a cow—are each purifying, and it further prescribes sesame-vessel and footwear gifts, indicating that dāna is a key purifier and supportive rite for the departed.

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

By prescribing offerings like food-grains and sesame (tilā) along with practical support such as footwear, the verse reflects the Garuda Purana’s ritual logic that merit and aid are generated for the preta through sanctioned gifts performed by the living.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

During śrāddha/ancestral rites, one may honor the intent of this verse through charity: donate staple grains, support land-related causes, offer cow-protection or equivalent dharmic support, give sesame-based offerings, and provide footwear/clothing to those in need.