Shloka 34

Praise of Vṛṣotsarga (Bull-release), Worthy Dāna, and the Procedure for Kṣayāha & Ūrdhva-daihika Rites

Devanagari script

पददानानि कुर्वीत श्रद्धाभक्तिसमन्वितः / तिलपात्राणि कुर्वीत सप्त पञ्च यथाक्रमम्

Transliteration

padadānāni kurvīta śraddhābhaktisamanvitaḥ / tilapātrāṇi kurvīta sapta pañca yathākramam

Translation

ശ്രദ്ധയും ഭക്തിയും സഹിതം പിതൃാർത്ഥമായി പദദാനാദി ദാനങ്ങൾ ചെയ്യണം. കൂടാതെ എള്ള് നിറച്ച പാത്രങ്ങളും ക്രമമായി—ഏഴും അഞ്ചും—തയ്യാറാക്കണം.

Word by Word

• पददानानि: gifts of steps/footing (padadāna offerings)
• पददानानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक) + दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: तत्पुरुष (पदानि दानानि/पददानानि), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• कुर्वीत: should do/perform
• कुर्वीत: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधि), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• श्रद्धाभक्तिसमन्वितः: endowed with faith and devotion
• श्रद्धाभक्तिसमन्वितः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रद्धा (प्रातिपदिक) + भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + समन्वित (क्त-कृदन्त; सम्+अन्वि/अनु+इ √इ)
• Form: समास: द्वन्द्वपूर्वक-तत्पुरुष (श्रद्धा-भक्तिभ्याम् समन्वितः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (endowed with faith and devotion)

• तिलपात्राणि: sesame vessels/containers
• तिलपात्राणि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिल (प्रातिपदिक) + पात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: तत्पुरुष (तिलस्य पात्राणि), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• कुर्वीत: should make/prepare
• कुर्वीत: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधि), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• सप्त: seven
• सप्त: Sankhya (Number/संख्या)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सप्त (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्या-शब्दः; प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचनार्थे (seven)

• पञ्च: five
• पञ्च: Sankhya (Number/संख्या)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्या-शब्दः; प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचनार्थे (five)

• यथाक्रमम्: in proper order
• यथाक्रमम्: Karana (Manner/करण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास (यथा क्रमः = in due order), अव्यय-प्रयोग

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda)

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Perform śrāddha-related gifts with śraddhā and bhakti; prepare tilapātras in the prescribed counts (seven and five) in proper order.

Vedantic Theme: Bhāva (inner devotion) sanctifies karma; dharma is both inner disposition (śraddhā) and outer correctness (yathākrama).

Application: Prepare sesame offerings cleanly; coordinate counts and sequence with the officiant; pair material offerings with sincere remembrance and ethical charity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Geographic Context

Type: śrāddha venue (home/riverbank/temple adjunct)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana lists of śrāddha-dāna items (pādya/udaka/anna/vastra, etc.) and tilā-related offerings; Garuda Purana emphasis on śraddhā as the life of śrāddha

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Preta
• Pitris

FAQs

What is the importance of padadāna (prescribed ritual gifts) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes that stepwise, prescribed gifts—done with śraddhā and bhakti—are part of the proper rite meant to support the departed and uphold dharma.

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

In the Preta Kanda context, orderly offerings (including sesame-vessels) are presented as aids for the preta’s difficult post-death passage, aligning the rites with the required sequence.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform ancestral rites with sincerity (not mechanically), follow an authentic sequence under guidance, and include traditional charity/offerings—especially sesame-based donations—when appropriate.