Shloka 18

The Extent of Questions: Deathbed Rites, Kāla (Time), and Karma-Vipāka Rebirths

Devanagari script

एक एव तिलो दत्तो हेमद्रोणतिलैः समः / तर्पणे दानहोमेषु दत्तो भवति चाक्षयः

Transliteration

eka eva tilo datto hemadroṇatilaiḥ samaḥ / tarpaṇe dānahomeṣu datto bhavati cākṣayaḥ

Translation

Даже одно семя кунжута, поднесённое в дар, равно по заслуге золотой мере (drona), наполненной кунжутом. Когда кунжут приносят в тарпане (tarpaṇa), в милостыне и в огненных подношениях (homa), дар становится неистощимым в плоде (akṣaya).

Word by Word

• ekaḥ: one
• ekaḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• eva: only; indeed
• eva: Nipata (Emphasis/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक निपात

• tilaḥ: a sesame seed
• tilaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• dattaḥ: given
• dattaḥ: Karta (Subject complement/कर्तृसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: datta (कृदन्त; √dā दा + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (given)

• hemadroṇatilaiḥ: with sesame worth a droṇa of gold (as a standard)
• hemadroṇatilaiḥ: Upamāna/Pramāṇa (Standard of comparison/उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hema + droṇa + tila (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (hema-droṇa-tila = sesame (measure) of a droṇa of gold; idiomatic: sesame equal to a droṇa of gold)

• samaḥ: equal
• samaḥ: Pradhana-visheshana (Predicate adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (equal)

• tarpaṇe: in tarpaṇa (libation rite)
• tarpaṇe: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tarpaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन

• dānahomeṣu: in gifts and fire-offerings
• dānahomeṣu: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dāna + homa (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, बहुवचन; द्वन्द्वः (dāna-homa = gifts and oblations)

• dattaḥ: given
• dattaḥ: Karta (Subject complement/कर्तृसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: datta (कृदन्त; √dā दा + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (given)

• bhavati: becomes
• bhavati: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (conjunction)

• akṣayaḥ: inexhaustible
• akṣayaḥ: Pradhana-visheshana (Predicate adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: akṣaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (imperishable/inexhaustible)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Small but properly offered gifts can yield akṣaya-phala (imperishable merit) when aligned with śāstric contexts (tarpaṇa, dāna, homa).

Vedantic Theme: Intention and right context (saṅkalpa/vidhi) magnify karmic fruit; karma-yoga principle that sincerity and correctness matter more than quantity.

Application: Encourage consistent, affordable ritual giving: offer sesame in tarpaṇa, donate within means, and participate in homa with devotion; prioritize regularity and purity of intent.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.2.16-2.2.17 on tilā’s purity and sin-burning; Garuda Purana śrāddha passages praising tilodaka and tiladāna

Characters & Entities

• Pitris

FAQs

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

This verse states that even a single sesame seed offered in rites like tarpaṇa, dāna, and homa yields immense merit—comparable to a large golden measure of sesame—and becomes akṣaya (imperishable) in result.

How does this verse relate to helping the departed (preta) or Pitṛs?

By highlighting tarpaṇa as a key context for offering tila, the verse underscores that small, sincere offerings made for the ancestors carry enduring spiritual efficacy, supporting Pitṛ-related rites central to the Preta Kanda.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

During śrāddha or tarpaṇa, offer tila with devotion and correctness; even modest means can produce lasting merit when the act is aligned with dharma and performed as a dedicated offering.