Shloka 24

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

Devanagari script

तिलपात्रं तु विप्राय दत्तं पत्ररथ ध्रुवम् / नाशयेत्त्रिविधं षापं वाङ्मनः कायसम्भवम्

Transliteration

tilapātraṃ tu viprāya dattaṃ patraratha dhruvam / nāśayettrividhaṃ ṣāpaṃ vāṅmanaḥ kāyasambhavam

Translation

O Garuḍa, whose chariot is swift: a vessel of sesame (tilapātra), when surely given to a brāhmaṇa, destroys the threefold curse arising from speech, mind, and body.

Word by Word

• तिलपात्रम्: a sesame-vessel (bowl of sesame)
• तिलपात्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिल + पात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; (वाक्ये कर्म/विषय)

• तु: but, indeed
• तु: Discourse (Nipata)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle/contrast)

• विप्राय: to a brāhmaṇa
• विप्राय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; सम्प्रदान-कारक

• दत्तम्: given
• दत्तम्: Karma (Qualifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु) + त (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; (तिलपात्रम् इत्यस्य विशेषण)

• पत्ररथ: O Garuḍa (whose chariot is of wings/leaves)
• पत्ररथ: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पत्ररथ (प्रातिपदिक; सम्बोधन)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; संबोधन

• ध्रुवम्: certainly
• ध्रुवम्: Discourse/Emphasis
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ध्रुव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial accusative/avyayībhāva usage)

• नाशयेत्: would destroy
• नाशयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नश्/नाशय् (धातु; णिच् causative of नश्)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• त्रिविधम्: threefold
• त्रिविधम्: Karma (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि + विध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषण (षापम्)

• षापम्: curse
• षापम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्म-कारक

• वाक्: speech
• वाक्: Sambandha (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; (समासे पूर्वपद)

• मनः: mind
• मनः: Sambandha (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; (समासे मध्यपद)

• कायसम्भवम्: arising from the body
• कायसम्भवम्: Karma (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काय + सम्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषण (षापम्); कायात् सम्भवः इति

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Tilapātra-dāna destroys the threefold ‘śāpa’/fault arising from speech, mind, and body (vāk-manas-kāya).

Vedantic Theme: Purification of the antaḥkaraṇa through sattvika acts; karma’s subtle residues can be attenuated by prescribed expiations and generosity.

Application: Use structured giving as ethical repair: donate staple foods (sesame/oil) to learned/ethical recipients; pair with self-restraint in speech, mindfulness, and bodily conduct.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: dāna lists where tila, ghṛta, vastra are singled out for specific doṣa-kṣaya

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Brahmana

FAQs

What is the importance of tilapātra-dāna in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents tilapātra-dāna (gifting a sesame vessel) to a brāhmaṇa as a potent expiatory act that neutralizes harmful consequences connected with one’s conduct and inner states.

How does this verse explain the threefold curse (trividha śāpa)?

It frames spiritual harm as arising through three channels—speech, mind, and body—implying that purification must address verbal actions, mental intentions, and physical deeds together.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice ethical restraint in speech, cultivate clean intentions, and act responsibly—while supporting worthy spiritual learning or service through sincere charity (dāna), especially in rites connected to ancestors and the departed.