Shloka 18
Explanation of Purification (Śuddhi-vyākhyāna)
गोभूमिपिण्डदानाद्यैः शक्त्या प्रेतं स्मरंश्च तम् / तिलैस्तिलांस्तु विप्राणां दर्भयुक्तेषु पाणिषु
gobhūmipiṇḍadānādyaiḥ śaktyā pretaṃ smaraṃśca tam / tilaistilāṃstu viprāṇāṃ darbhayukteṣu pāṇiṣu
ఆ ప్రేతాత్మను స్మరిస్తూ, తన శక్తి మేరకు గోదానం, భూదానం, పిండదానం మొదలైన దానాలు చేయాలి; అలాగే దర్భతో అలంకరించిన బ్రాహ్మణుల చేతుల్లో నువ్వులు ఉంచాలి।
Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni
Ritual Type: Ekoddishta
Beneficiary: Pitr
Timing: During śrāddha as adjunct dānas; tiladāna typically performed in the rite’s charitable segment.
Concept: Merit-making through śrāddha-associated gifts (go-dāna, bhū-dāna, piṇḍa-dāna) performed according to one’s śakti, with tiladāna as a purificatory and pitṛ-pleasing act.
Vedantic Theme: Karma performed with right intention and capacity (yathā-śakti) becomes a means of purification and welfare for self and departed.
Application: Give within means—food, donations, or service—while remembering the departed; include tiladāna to qualified recipients as per tradition.
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: ritual-space
Related Themes: Garuda Purana prescriptions on tiladāna and go-dāna for preta/pitṛ benefit; Garuda Purana lists of śrāddha dānas and their fruits
FAQs
This verse presents tila-dāna as a key Shraddha-related gift: sesame is placed into the darbha-prepared hands of Brahmins while remembering the preta, supporting rites intended for the departed’s welfare.
By explicitly naming the deceased as a “preta,” the verse implies the post-death interim condition in which ritual support is prescribed; remembrance and prescribed dāna/offerings are stated as appropriate actions for aiding that departed state.
Perform post-death rites with sincerity and within your means—offer piṇḍa, practice charity (including sesame-gifts), and support qualified priests—keeping the departed in mindful remembrance rather than treating rituals as mere formality.