Shloka 18

The Explanation of Various Gifts (Dāna) and the Soul’s Entry into Another Body

Devanagari script

ताम्बूलं कुसुमं देयं याम्यानां हर्षवर्धनम् / तेन सम्प्रीणिताः सर्वे तस्मिन् क्लेशं न कुर्वते

Transliteration

tāmbūlaṃ kusumaṃ deyaṃ yāmyānāṃ harṣavardhanam / tena samprīṇitāḥ sarve tasmin kleśaṃ na kurvate

Translation

താംബൂലവും പുഷ്പങ്ങളും അർപ്പിക്കണം—ഇവ യമന്റെ അനുചരന്മാരുടെ ഹർഷം വർധിപ്പിക്കുന്നു. അവരൊക്കെയും തൃപ്തരായാൽ ആ പഥത്തിൽ അവനോട് ക്ലേശം ചെയ്യുകയില്ല.

Word by Word

• ताम्बूलम्: betel (leaf/quid)
• ताम्बूलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ताम्बूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विधेय-निर्देशे (as item to be given)

• कुसुमम्: a flower
• कुसुमम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुसुम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• देयम्: to be given
• देयम्: Vidhyartha (Obligation predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √दा (धातु) + यत् (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (to be given)

• याम्यानाम्: of the Yama-world beings
• याम्यानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: याम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; याम्य = यमसम्बन्धिनः (denizens of Yama)

• हर्ष-वर्धनम्: increasing joy
• हर्ष-वर्धनम्: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हर्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (हर्षस्य वर्धनम्)

• तेन: by that/thereby
• तेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• सम्प्रीणिताः: pleased/satisfied
• सम्प्रीणिताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्√प्री (धातु) + क्त (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• तस्मिन्: in that (matter/place)
• तस्मिन्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• क्लेशम्: affliction/trouble
• क्लेशम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्लेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha/Connector (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation particle)

• कुर्वते: do/make
• कुर्वते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: During preta-related rites/offerings accompanying the journey narrative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Small offerings (tāmbūla, flowers) can mitigate suffering by pacifying agents of karmic administration.

Vedantic Theme: Karma’s administration is orderly; upāyas within dharma can soften experiential intensity without denying moral causality.

Application: In śrāddha/uttara-kriyā, include simple, sincere offerings; cultivate gratitude and non-hostility even toward feared forces.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: liminal route

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.31.17 (sugati aids); Garuda Purana 2.31.20 (water-vessel dāna as great merit)

Characters & Entities

• Yama
• Yama’s attendants (Yāmyas/Yamadūtas)
• Preta (the departed)

FAQs

What is the importance of offering tāmbūla and flowers in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states they delight Yama’s attendants; when pleased, they refrain from causing affliction to the departed during the post-death journey.

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

It implies the departed (preta) encounters Yama’s agents on the way; appropriate ritual offerings can mitigate obstacles and suffering imposed by these attendants.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

During antyeṣṭi/preta-kriyā performed according to one’s tradition, include simple, respectful offerings (like flowers and tāmbūla) with sincere intention, emphasizing compassion and dharmic support for the departed.