Shloka 30

The Narrative of the Five Pretas

Eligibility for rites and jīvac-chrāddha procedure

Devanagari script

अमुकामुकगौत्रैतत्तुभ्यमस्तु तिलोदकम् / प्रदद्याद्दश पिण्डांस्तु अर्घपुष्पसमन्वितान्

Transliteration

amukāmukagautraitattubhyamastu tilodakam / pradadyāddaśa piṇḍāṃstu arghapuṣpasamanvitān

Translation

Dengan mengucap, “Wahai engkau dari gotra sekian-sekian, semoga persembahan air bercampur bijan ini menjadi milikmu,” kemudian persembahkanlah sepuluh piṇḍa (bebola nasi), disertai argha (air persembahan) dan bunga.

Word by Word

• अमुकामुकगौत्र: (of) such-and-such lineage
• अमुकामुकगौत्र: Visheshana (qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमुक + अमुक + गोत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-समासः (अमुकस्य अमुकस्य गोत्रम्)

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karma/Predicate nominal (कर्म/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; इदमर्थक सर्वनाम

• तुभ्यम्: to you
• तुभ्यम्: Sampradana (recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; मध्यमपुरुष-सर्वनाम

• अस्तु: let it be
• अस्तु: Kriya (action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative/benedictive usage), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• तिलोदकम्: sesame-water (water with sesame)
• तिलोदकम्: Karta (subject of अस्तु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिल + उदक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (तिलयुक्तम् उदकम्)

• प्रदद्यात्: should offer/give
• प्रदद्यात्: Kriya (action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र+√दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• दश: ten
• दश: Karma (object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (पिण्डान्)

• पिण्डान्: rice-balls (piṇḍas)
• पिण्डान्: Karma (object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अवधारणार्थक निपात (particle: but/indeed)

• अर्घपुष्पसमन्वितान्: accompanied with arghya-offering and flowers
• अर्घपुष्पसमन्वितान्: Karma (object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अर्घ + पुष्प + समन्वित (कृदन्त; सम्+अनु+√इ (धातु) / √वृ?; lexical: समन्वित)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (पिण्डान्); तत्पुरुषः (अर्घेण पुष्पेण च समन्विताः)

Speaker

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

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: After jalāñjali/tarpaṇa; during piṇḍa-dāna with tilodaka and arghya-puṣpa

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śrāddha is relational dharma: offerings are made with specific intention and identification, sustaining ancestral continuity and aiding the departed’s subtle needs.

Vedantic Theme: Interdependence within saṃsāra; subtle continuity of saṃskāra and obligation (ṛṇa) even as the Self is ultimately beyond lineage.

Application: When performing memorial rites, state intention clearly (name/lineage), offer tilodaka and piṇḍas with sincerity and cleanliness.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual site

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.8.31 (incense/lamp/bali and remembrance of Viṣṇu after piṇḍa-dāna)

Characters & Entities

• Pitris
• Pretas

FAQs

What is the importance of tilodaka (sesame-water) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames tilodaka as a formally addressed libation to the departed/ancestor, using the person’s gotra identification, making the offering ritually specific and directed.

Why are ten piṇḍas offered along with argha and flowers?

The verse prescribes a complete piṇḍa-dāna act: multiple piṇḍas (ten) are given, and the offering is ‘samanvita’—completed with respectful adjuncts like argha and flowers—indicating fullness and honor in the rite.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing śrāddha or memorial rites, keep the intention precise (naming/identifying the recipient) and make the offering complete and respectful—simple, sincere, and properly accompanied (water and flowers).