Shloka 53

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

Devanagari script

पितॄणामन्नपानं च प्रभूतमुपतिष्ठति / पौर्णमास्याममायां वा तिलपात्राणि दापयेत्

Transliteration

pitṝṇāmannapānaṃ ca prabhūtamupatiṣṭhati / paurṇamāsyāmamāyāṃ vā tilapātrāṇi dāpayet

Translation

പിതൃകൾക്കായി അന്നപാനങ്ങൾ സമൃദ്ധമായി ലഭ്യമാകുന്നു; അതിനാൽ പൗർണ്ണമിയിലോ അമാവാസിയിലോ എള്ളുപാത്രങ്ങൾ ദാനമായി നൽകിക്കൊള്ളണം।

Word by Word

• पितॄणाम्: of the ancestors
• पितॄणाम्: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध (genitive: “of the ancestors”)

• अन्नपानम्: food and drink
• अन्नपानम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anna (प्रातिपदिक) + pāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; द्वन्द्व (itaretara: “food and drink”)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (and)

• प्रभूतम्: abundant
• प्रभूतम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prabhūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; अन्नपानम् इत्यस्य विशेषण (abundant)

• उपतिष्ठति: is present/attends
• उपतिष्ठति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-√sthā (स्था)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• पौर्णमास्याम्: on the full-moon day
• पौर्णमास्याम्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paurṇamāsī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; कालाधिकरण (on the full-moon day)

• अमायाम्: on the new-moon day
• अमायाम्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: amāvāsyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; कालाधिकरण (on the new-moon day)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्प (or)

• तिलपात्राणि: sesame vessels (offerings)
• तिलपात्राणि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tila (प्रातिपदिक) + pātra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: “sesame-vessels”, i.e., vessels of sesame)

• दापयेत्: should give (have given)
• दापयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dā (दा) (णिच् causative: dāpay-)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative: “should cause to be given/should give”)

Speaker

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

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Paurṇamāsī (full moon) or Amāvāsyā (new moon)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Pitṛ-tarpaṇa through śrāddha-related giving; sesame (tila) dāna as a conduit of benefit to ancestors.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-bandha and ṛṇa (pitṛ-ṛṇa) discharged through prescribed rites; continuity of lineage and subtle reciprocity.

Application: On pūrṇimā or amāvāsyā, perform charity with tila-vessels and arrange food/water offerings with sincerity; include remembrance and gratitude to ancestors.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual setting (gṛha/śrāddha-sthāna)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa/Śrāddha sections frequently prescribe tila, anna, and timing on amāvāsyā/pūrṇimā (general internal continuity).

Characters & Entities

• Pitris

FAQs

What is the importance of sesame donation (til-dāna) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse links til-pātra dāna on Paurṇimā or Amāvāsyā with providing abundant nourishment (food and drink) to the Pitṛs, making it a recommended act within ancestor rites.

How does this verse explain support to ancestors after death?

It states that through prescribed rites—especially charity involving sesame on key lunar days—resources like food and drink are understood to reach and benefit the Pitṛs in their subtle, post-death condition.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

On Amāvāsyā or Paurṇimā, perform a simple ancestor remembrance and donate sesame (or sesame-based items) with sincere intent, aligning charity with gratitude and family duty (pitṛ-dharma).