Shloka 67

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

Devanagari script

असौ स्वर्गाय लोकाय स्वाहेत्युक्त्वा तु नामतः / एवमाज्याहुतिं दत्त्वा तिलमिश्रां समन्त्रकम्

Transliteration

asau svargāya lokāya svāhetyuktvā tu nāmataḥ / evamājyāhutiṃ dattvā tilamiśrāṃ samantrakam

Translation

Uttering the person’s name and saying, “Svāhā—may this reach the heavenly world,” one should thus offer an oblation of ghee mixed with sesame, accompanied by the proper mantra.

Word by Word

• असौ: he/that person
• असौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असद्/अदस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक (pronoun), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• स्वर्गाय: for heaven
• स्वर्गाय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• लोकाय: for the world/realm
• लोकाय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• स्वाहा: svāhā (oblatory exclamation)
• स्वाहा: Sambandha/Prayojaka (Ritual utterance)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वाहा (अव्यय/निपात)
• Form: मन्त्र-निपात (ritual exclamation), अव्यय

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (Quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण-निपात (quotative particle), अव्यय

• उक्त्वा: having said
• उक्त्वा: Kriya (Gerundial action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) + क्त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकाल (having said)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/विरोध-निपात (particle), अव्यय

• नामतः: by name
• नामतः: Kriya-viseshana (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नामन् (प्रातिपदिक) + तस् (तद्धित)
• Form: तद्धितान्त-अव्यय (ablatival adverb), अर्थः—‘नामेन/नामतः’ (by name)

• एवम्: thus/in this manner
• एवम्: Kriya-viseshana (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb), अव्यय

• आज्याहुतिम्: ghee-oblation
• आज्याहुतिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आज्य + आहुति (प्रातिपदिक; आज्य-आहुति)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी/कर्मधारय-समासार्थः—‘आज्यस्य आहुति:’ (an oblation of ghee)

• दत्त्वा: having offered/given
• दत्त्वा: Kriya (Gerundial action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु) + क्त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकाल (having given/offered)

• तिलमिश्राम्: mixed with sesame
• तिलमिश्राम्: Visheshana (Qualifier of आज्याहुतिम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तिल + मिश्र (प्रातिपदिक; तिल-मिश्र)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifier) — ‘तिलैः मिश्रिता’ (mixed with sesame)

• समन्त्रकम्: with mantra(s)
• समन्त्रकम्: Visheshana (Qualifier of आज्याहुतिम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + मन्त्रक (प्रातिपदिक; समन्त्रक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम्—‘मन्त्रेण सह’ (accompanied by mantra)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: During antayeṣṭi/early post-cremation rites as a mantra-guided āhuti for the named departed.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Mantra-yukta āhuti and sankalpa (naming the departed) function as karma that supports auspicious post-mortem transit.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-kāṇḍa as a preparatory purifier (citta-śuddhi) supporting higher aims; efficacy depends on śraddhā and vidhi.

Application: Perform offerings with correct name, intention, and mantra; use tilamiśra ājya as prescribed, maintaining ritual purity and attention.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: ritual space (agni/śrāddha context)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: śrāddha/antyeṣṭi sequences involving āhuti, tilā, and naming the preta; Garuda Purana: tilodaka/tilāhuti praised for pitṛ-tṛpti in śrāddha contexts

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Svarga
• Svaha

FAQs

What is the importance of offering ghee mixed with sesame in Garuda Purana death rituals?

This verse prescribes an ājya-huti (ghee oblation) combined with tila (sesame) as a mantra-backed offering intended to benefit the departed and direct merit toward a higher realm (svarga).

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

By instructing an offering explicitly addressed “for the heavenly world,” the verse reflects the Garuda Purana idea that post-death rites can support the departed being through merit and ritual intention, aiding a favorable destination.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If performing śrāddha/antyeṣṭi under a qualified priest’s guidance, ensure offerings are done with correct sankalpa (naming the departed) and mantras—emphasizing disciplined, sincere ritual action rather than mere formality.