Shloka 30

Dharma–Adharma Marks; Daśāha, Piṇḍa Formation, Śrāddha Calendar, Śayyā-dāna, and Sapiṇḍīkaraṇa Rules

Devanagari script

यदा पुष्पं प्रनष्टं हि तदा गर्भं न धारयेत् / आदराच्च ततो भूमौ तिलदर्भान्विनिः क्षिपेत्

Transliteration

yadā puṣpaṃ pranaṣṭaṃ hi tadā garbhaṃ na dhārayet / ādarācca tato bhūmau tiladarbhānviniḥ kṣipet

Translation

‘പുഷ്പം’ നശിച്ചാൽ ഗർഭം നിലനിർത്തി വയ്ക്കരുത്. തുടർന്ന് ആദരപൂർവ്വം ഭൂമിയിൽ എള്ളും ദർഭയും സൂക്ഷ്മമായി വിതറണം.

Word by Word

• yadā: when
• yadā: Kāla (काल/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Temporal adverb (कालवाचक अव्यय)

• puṣpam: the flower
• puṣpam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṣpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा) or Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); here subject with pranaṣṭam

• pranaṣṭam: destroyed/lost
• pranaṣṭam: Visheshana (विशेषण/Adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-naś (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/कृत्), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with puṣpam

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) emphasis

• tadā: then
• tadā: Kāla (काल/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Temporal adverb (कालवाचक अव्यय)

• garbham: the embryo/pregnancy
• garbham: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: garbha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध निपात)

• dhārayet: should hold/maintain
• dhārayet: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dhṛ (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); Parasmaipada

• ādarāt: out of care/respect
• ādarāt: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ādara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन); used adverbially ‘out of respect/carefully’

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• tataḥ: thereafter
• tataḥ: Kramānvaya (क्रम/Sequence)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (अव्यय) meaning ‘thereupon/from that’

• bhūmau: on the ground
• bhūmau: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūmi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• tila-darbhān: sesame and darbha (grass)
• tila-darbhān: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tila (प्रातिपदिक) + darbha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन); इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः: tilāḥ ca darbhāḥ ca

• viniḥ: fully/indeed (particle)
• viniḥ: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: viniḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle/adverb (निपात/अव्यय); used as intensifier/marker (textual variant possible)

• kṣipet: should throw/scatter
• kṣipet: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṣip (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

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

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Contextually within immediate post-death/purity observances; exact day not specified in the verse.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: When life has ended, one should not preserve what is no longer viable; instead, perform prescribed purificatory offerings (tila-darbha) with reverence.

Vedantic Theme: Acceptance of impermanence (anityatā) and adherence to saṃskāra-dharma to harmonize grief with right action.

Application: In death-related contingencies, avoid improper retention/handling; follow ritual and ethical protocols with respect and cleanliness.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: household/ritual ground (bhūmi)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: purity rules and handling of remains; use of tila-darbha for śuddhi and preta-support

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Bhumi (Earth)
• Darbha (Kusha grass)

FAQs

What is the importance of tila (sesame) and darbha in Garuda Purana rituals?

This verse highlights that sesame and darbha are ritually potent materials; scattering them on the earth is a reverential act used in death-related rites to maintain sanctity and support proper observance of post-death procedures.

How does this verse relate to the Garuda Purana’s discussion of death rites?

Placed in Preta Kanda’s practical ritual instructions, it prescribes a specific action—casting tila and darbha on the ground—when the ‘life-bud’ has perished, aligning conduct with the text’s broader framework of correct antyeṣṭi and śrāddha observance.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Follow death-rite procedures with care and reverence, and consult qualified family priests/tradition-bearers for correct materials and steps—this verse emphasizes disciplined, respectful ritual action rather than haste or neglect.