Shloka 19

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

Devanagari script

दर्भा रोमसमुद्भूतास्तिलाः स्वेदेषु नान्यथा / देवता दानवास्तृप्ताः श्राद्धेन पितरस्तथा

Transliteration

darbhā romasamudbhūtāstilāḥ svedeṣu nānyathā / devatā dānavāstṛptāḥ śrāddhena pitarastathā

Translation

దర్భలు రోమములనుండి పుట్టినవి, నువ్వులు స్వేదమునుండి—ఇతర జన్మకారణం లేదు. శ్రాద్ధక్రియచేత దేవతలూ దానవులూ తృప్తి పొందుతారు; అలాగే పితృదేవతలూ తృప్తి పొందుతారు.

Word by Word

• darbhāḥ: darbha grass
• darbhāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: darbha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• romasamudbhūtāḥ: arisen from hair
• romasamudbhūtāḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: roma + samudbhūta (कृदन्त; √bhū भू + क्त; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (roma-samudbhūta = arisen from hair); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण

• tilāḥ: sesame seeds
• tilāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• svedeṣu: in sweats; in perspiration
• svedeṣu: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sveda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• na: not
• na: Nishedha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेधार्थक निपात

• anyathā: otherwise
• anyathā: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: anyathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (otherwise)

• devatāḥ: deities
• devatāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devatā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• dānavāḥ: dānavas
• dānavāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dānava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• tṛptāḥ: satisfied
• tṛptāḥ: Pradhana-visheshana (Predicate adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tṛpta (कृदन्त; √tṛp तृप् + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (satisfied)

• śrāddhena: by śrāddha
• śrāddhena: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrāddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• pitaraḥ: ancestors (pitṛs)
• pitaraḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन; पितृ-शब्द (irregular declension)

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/सादृश्यवाचक (likewise)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śrāddha, using sanctioned substances like darbha and tilā, maintains relational harmony across beings and fulfills obligations to ancestors and cosmic orders.

Vedantic Theme: Ṛṇa (debts/obligations) and yajña as social-cosmic glue; dharma as sustaining order (loka-saṅgraha).

Application: Perform śrāddha with correct dravya (darbha, tilā) and intent; understand it as gratitude and continuity rather than mere fear of afterlife.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.2.16-2.2.18 on tilā’s origin, purification, and akṣaya merit; Garuda Purana śrāddha chapters on darbha/tilā requirements and pitṛ-tarpaṇa

Characters & Entities

• Darbhā (Kuśa grass)
• Tilā (Sesame)
• Devatāḥ (Devas)
• Dānavāḥ (Danavas)
• Pitaraḥ (Pitris)

FAQs

What is the importance of darbha and til in Garuda Purana śrāddha rituals?

This verse grounds darbha (kuśa) and til (sesame) as inherently sacred substances, making them especially fit for śrāddha and offerings that aim to satisfy the Pitṛs.

How does this verse explain the effect of śrāddha on the departed and other beings?

It states that śrāddha produces ‘tṛpti’ (satisfaction/propitiation) not only for the Pitṛs but also for devas and even daṇavas, emphasizing the rite’s wide-reaching ritual efficacy.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing śrāddha, tarpana, or pinda-dāna, use prescribed items like kuśa and sesame with reverence and correctness, focusing on sincerity and dharmic conduct as the foundation of the rite.