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

Hendaklah dipersembahkan tāmbūla (daun sirih) dan bunga, yang menambah sukacita para pengiring Yama. Apabila semuanya dipuaskan demikian, mereka tidak menimpakan kesengsaraan kepadanya di jalan itu.

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.