Shloka 52

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

Devanagari script

तिलदर्भघृतेधांसि गृहीत्वा तु सुतादयः / गाथां यमस्य सूक्तं वाप्यधीयाना व्रजन्ति हि

Transliteration

tiladarbhaghṛtedhāṃsi gṛhītvā tu sutādayaḥ / gāthāṃ yamasya sūktaṃ vāpyadhīyānā vrajanti hi

Translation

Taking sesame, darbha grass, ghee, and firewood, the sons and other kinsmen proceed, reciting on the way a gāthā of Yama or a fitting sacred chant.

Word by Word

• तिल: sesame
• तिल: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (stem-form in compound)

• दर्भ: darbha grass
• दर्भ: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दर्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (stem-form in compound)

• घृत: ghee
• घृत: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (stem-form in compound)

• एधांसि: firewood, fuel sticks
• एधांसि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एधस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन

• गृहीत्वा: having taken
• गृहीत्वा: Kriya-viseshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु) + क्त्वा (अव्यय-कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund), ‘having taken’

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

• सुतादयः: sons and others
• सुतादयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुत (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; समासः—‘सुताः आदयः’ (sons and others)

• गाथाम्: a verse/chant
• गाथाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गाथा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• यमस्य: of Yama
• यमस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• सूक्तम्: a well-spoken hymn/utterance
• सूक्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), ‘also/even’

• अधीयानाः: reciting
• अधीयानाः: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अधि-इ (धातु) + शानच् (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘reciting/studying’

• व्रजन्ति: they go/proceed
• व्रजन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्रज् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), emphasis/causal nuance

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: During the funeral departure/procession (en route)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Antyeṣṭi is sustained by śraddhā and mantra; relatives bear the ritual materials and sanctify the passage by reciting Yama-sūkta or auspicious gāthā.

Vedantic Theme: Anityatā (impermanence) met with niyata-karma (obligatory duty) as a purifier of mind (citta-śuddhi).

Application: During funeral transit, keep the mind collected by recitation; ensure required materials (tila, darbha, ghṛta, fuel) are carried by kin as part of duty.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: processional path to cremation-ground

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.4 (antyeṣṭi/śrāddha sequence; 'pūrvokta-vidhi' implied)

Characters & Entities

• Yama
• Sons/relatives (sutādayaḥ)
• Darbha (Kusha grass)
• Sesame (tila)

FAQs

What is the importance of carrying sesame, darbha, ghee, and firewood in Garuda Purana funeral rites?

This verse lists key ritual materials for antyeṣṭi: sesame and darbha are purificatory and used in offerings, ghee sustains the sacred fire, and firewood enables the cremation rites—performed by sons/relatives for the departed.

Why does the verse mention reciting a hymn of Yama during the rites?

Yama is the lord of death and the regulator of the after-death journey; reciting Yama-related hymns or suitable suktas sanctifies the procession and aligns the rite with the dharmic passage of the deceased toward Yama’s domain.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform last rites with mindful discipline—use traditional materials where possible, recite appropriate prayers with sincerity, and treat the funeral duties as a dharmic responsibility carried out calmly and respectfully.