Shloka 13

Dāna for the Preta: Supreme Gifts, Yama’s Pacification, and Viṣṇu-Smaraṇa at the Time of Death

Devanagari script

तिला लौहं हिरण्यञ्च कार्पासं लवणं तथा / सप्तधान्यं क्षितिर्गाव एकैकं पावनं स्मृतम्

Transliteration

tilā lauhaṃ hiraṇyañca kārpāsaṃ lavaṇaṃ tathā / saptadhānyaṃ kṣitirgāva ekaikaṃ pāvanaṃ smṛtam

Translation

నువ్వులు, ఇనుము, బంగారం, పత్తి, అలాగే ఉప్పు; ఇంకా సప్తధాన్యాలు, భూమి, గోవు—ఇవన్నీ ఒక్కొక్కటి పవిత్రకర దానమని స్మరించబడింది.

Word by Word

• tilāḥ: sesame seeds
• tilāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), बहुवचनम्

• lauham: iron
• lauham: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lauha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), एकवचनम्

• hiraṇyam: gold
• hiraṇyam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hiraṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), एकवचनम्

• ca: and
• ca: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• kārpāsam: cotton
• kārpāsam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kārpāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), एकवचनम्

• lavaṇam: salt
• lavaṇam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lavaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), एकवचनम्

• tathā: also; likewise
• tathā: Connector/Adverb
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/तुल्यार्थे अव्ययम्

• sapta-dhānyam: seven kinds of grain
• sapta-dhānyam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sapta (संख्या) + dhānya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), एकवचनम्; द्विगु-समासः (सप्त धान्यानि)

• kṣitiḥ: earth; land
• kṣitiḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣiti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), एकवचनम्

• gāvaḥ: cows
• gāvaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: go (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), बहुवचनम्; गो-शब्दः

• eka-ekam: each (one)
• eka-ekam: Adverbial modifier (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eka + eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासवत् अव्ययप्रयोगः; ‘एकैकम्’ = one by one/each separately

• pāvanam: purifying
• pāvanam: Predicate complement (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pāvana (प्रातिपदिक; √pū पू)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), एकवचनम्; विधेय-विशेषणम्

• smṛtam: is regarded; is stated
• smṛtam: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: smṛta (कृदन्त; √smṛ स्मृ)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), एकवचनम्; कर्मणि प्रयोगे ‘स्मृतम्’ = ‘is considered/remembered’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Certain dāna-dravyas are intrinsically purifying; gifting essentials (food, land, cow) and valuables (gold, iron) supports dharma and cleanses sin.

Vedantic Theme: Purification (śuddhi) through selfless giving; loosening possessiveness (aparigraha tendency) as preparation for higher pursuit.

Application: Choose charitable gifts that genuinely sustain others—food/grain, clothing/cotton, salt, land support, and livelihood assets—offered with purity and right recipient.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana dāna-khaṇḍa style lists of pāvana dravyas; nearby verses on tilā and akṣaya-dāna

Characters & Entities

• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of purifying gifts (pāvana-dravya) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse lists specific substances traditionally regarded as purifying when donated—supporting ritual purity and accruing merit, especially in contexts like śrāddha and rites connected with the departed.

How does this verse connect to Garuda Purana teachings on after-death rites?

In the Preta Kanda, guidance often emphasizes supportive acts—such as dāna—performed by the living; this verse identifies items whose donation is considered spiritually purifying within that ritual-ethical framework.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice ethical charity: donate staple foods/grains, essential materials, or support livelihoods (symbolically aligned with these items) with sincerity, especially when performing remembrance rites or acts of service for family ancestors.