Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 50

Yamamārga, Antyeṣṭi-vidhi, and Daśāhika Piṇḍa-dāna

Road to Yama and Ten-Day Offerings

Devanagari script

एवमाज्याहुतिं दत्त्वा तिलमिश्रां समन्त्रकाम् / ततो दाहः प्रकर्तव्यः पुत्रेण किल निश्चितम्

Transliteration

evamājyāhutiṃ dattvā tilamiśrāṃ samantrakām / tato dāhaḥ prakartavyaḥ putreṇa kila niścitam

Translation

இவ்வாறு எள்ளுடன் கலந்த நெய் ஆஹுதியை மந்திரங்களுடன் அளித்த பின், தகனம் செய்ய வேண்டும்—இது மகனால் செய்யவேண்டும் என்று உறுதியாக விதிக்கப்பட்டது.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Sambandha (Manner/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; क्रियाविशेषणम् (manner)

• आज्याहुतिम्: ghee oblation
• आज्याहुतिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आज्य-आहुति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• दत्त्वा: having offered/given
• दत्त्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभावः; पूर्वक्रिया (having given)

• तिल-मिश्राम्: mixed with sesame
• तिल-मिश्राम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तिल-मिश्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (तिलैः मिश्राम्)

• समन्त्रकाम्: accompanied by mantra
• समन्त्रकाम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स-मन्त्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (मन्त्रेण सह)

• ततः: then
• ततः: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; क्रियाविशेषणम् (sequence)

• दाहः: burning/cremation
• दाहः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दाह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• प्रकर्तव्यः: to be performed/should be done
• प्रकर्तव्यः: Kriya (Obligation/क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-√कृ (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त-तव्यत् (gerundive: 'to be done'); पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विधेयविशेषणम् (predicate adjective)

• पुत्रेण: by the son
• पुत्रेण: Kartr (Agent-instrumental/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन

• किल: indeed/it is said
• किल: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किल (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; निपातः (emphatic/indeed, reportedly)

• निश्चितम्: determined/settled
• निश्चितम्: Kriya (Predicate complement/क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि-√चि (धातु) क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; निश्चित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; भावे प्रयोगः (as predicate: 'is determined')

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda)

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Preta (departed person)

Timing: Immediately before/at commencement of the main cremation after āhutis

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Kartṛ-dharma: the son is obligated to complete cremation after proper āhutis; tila-miśra ājya supports śānti and ancestral continuity.

Vedantic Theme: Svadharma in action; karma performed as duty (niyata-karma) sustaining social and ritual order.

Application: Offer ghee mixed with sesame with mantras, then proceed to cremation; ensure the son (or proper substitute per śāstra) performs the rite.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: shmashana (cremation rite)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana sections on the son’s role in antyeṣṭi and subsequent śrāddha obligations; Garuda Purana on tila usage in rites for pitṛs

Characters & Entities

• Son (Putra)
• Mantras

FAQs

What is the importance of offering ghee mixed with sesame before cremation in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents the ājyāhuti (ghee oblation) mixed with tila and done with mantras as a prescribed preliminary rite, framing cremation as a sanctified, mantra-governed transition rather than a mere disposal of the body.

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

By emphasizing samantraka offerings and the duly performed dāha (cremation), the verse implies that correct last rites support the orderly post-death passage of the departed, aligning the transition with dharma as taught in the Preta Kanda.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat last rites as disciplined duties: perform cremation with appropriate ritual guidance (mantra and procedure), and ensure responsible family participation—especially the traditional role of the son or designated next-of-kin—done with sincerity and order.