Shloka 44

Praise of Vṛṣotsarga (Bull-release), Worthy Dāna, and the Procedure for Kṣayāha & Ūrdhva-daihika Rites

Devanagari script

सप्तधान्यं क्षितिर्गावो ह्येकैकं पावनं स्मृतम् / तिलपात्राणि कुर्वीत शय्यादानं च दापयेत्

Transliteration

saptadhānyaṃ kṣitirgāvo hyekaikaṃ pāvanaṃ smṛtam / tilapātrāṇi kurvīta śayyādānaṃ ca dāpayet

Translation

ธัญญาหารเจ็ดประการ ที่ดิน และโค—แต่ละอย่างแม้ถวายเพียงอย่างเดียวก็ถือว่าเป็นสิ่งชำระให้บริสุทธิ์ จงจัดภาชนะบรรจุงา และให้มีการถวายทานเป็นที่นอน (ศัยยาทาน) ด้วย

Word by Word

• सप्तधान्यम्: the seven grains
• सप्तधान्यम्: Karta (Item enumerated/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सप्त + धान्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• क्षितिः: earth/land
• क्षितिः: Karta (Item enumerated/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षिति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• गावः: cows
• गावः: Karta (Item enumerated/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Nominative plural

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Discourse particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle) अव्यय; emphasis/indeed

• एकैकम्: each one (separately)
• एकैकम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक + एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वसमास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular used distributively ('each one')

• पावनम्: purifying
• पावनम्: Karta (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पावन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular (predicate adjective)

• स्मृतम्: is declared/remembered (as)
• स्मृतम्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (Past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'is said/considered'

• तिलपात्राणि: sesame-vessels (vessels with sesame)
• तिलपात्राणि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिल + पात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), बहुवचन; Accusative plural

• कुर्वीत: should make
• कुर्वीत: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; should make

• शय्यादानम्: gift of a bed
• शय्यादानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शय्या + दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; Accusative singular

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• दापयेत्: should have (it) given / should cause to donate
• दापयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु) [णिच् causative: दापय-]
• Form: णिच्-प्रत्ययान्त प्रेरणार्थक धातु; विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; should cause (someone) to give

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: As part of śrāddha-associated dāna prescriptions (performed per local prayoga and capacity)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Specific gifts—even singly—purify; tilapātra and śayyādāna are recommended as meritorious supports for the departed and purifier for the giver.

Vedantic Theme: Karma purification (citta-śuddhi) through sattvic giving; dharma as a means to reduce bondage and support auspicious transitions.

Application: Offer any of the listed gifts according to capacity; prepare sesame-filled vessels; arrange śayyādāna (bed/bedstead with bedding) through proper recipients and intention.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: tiladāna as central śrāddha gift; lists of dānas for preta welfare in the same chapter; Garuda Purana: śayyādāna and its fruits in dāna-kathana sections

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Pretas
• Pitris

FAQs

What is the importance of tila-pātra (sesame vessel) dāna in the Garuda Purana?

This verse lists sesame-vessel offerings as a purifying donation; tila is traditionally used in preta-related rites to support purification and auspicious passage for the departed.

How does this verse guide Garuda Purana death-ritual practice for the departed (preta)?

It prescribes specific dānas—seven grains, land, cows, sesame vessels, and a bed—stating that even a single item among them is purifying, thereby giving a practical, scalable ritual guideline.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If full-scale rites are not feasible, perform sincere charity aligned with this list—food grains, supporting livelihood/land-related aid, cow-care or equivalent welfare, sesame donations, and providing bedding—done respectfully in memory of the departed.