Shloka 6

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

Devanagari script

तिला गावो महादानं महापातकनाशनम् / तद्द्वयं दीयते विप्रे नान्यवर्णे कदाचन

Transliteration

tilā gāvo mahādānaṃ mahāpātakanāśanam / taddvayaṃ dīyate vipre nānyavarṇe kadācana

Translation

เมล็ดงาและโคเป็นมหาทาน ทำลายมหาบาปได้ ทานทั้งสองนี้พึงถวายแก่พราหมณ์เท่านั้น มิควรถวายแก่ผู้ต่างวรรณะเป็นอันขาด.

Word by Word

• तिलाः: sesame seeds
• तिलाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• गावः: cows
• गावः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• महादानम्: a great gift
• महादानम्: Pradhāna-nāma (Predicate nominal/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा-दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (महद् दानम्)

• महापातकनाशनम्: destroyer of great sins
• महापातकनाशनम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा-पातक-नाशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (महापातकस्य नाशनम्)

• तद्द्वयम्: that pair (these two)
• तद्द्वयम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद्-द्वय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः द्विगुः (द्वयम् = twofold set)

• दीयते: is given
• दीयते: Kriyā (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपदम्; कर्मणि प्रयोगः (passive)

• विप्रे: to a Brahmin
• विप्रे: Sampradāna (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण) एकवचन; अर्थतः ‘विप्राय’ इति चतुर्थी-भावः (recipient) सम्भवः

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (निषेध/negation particle)

• अन्यवर्णे: in/for another caste
• अन्यवर्णे: Adhikaraṇa (Locative domain/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य-वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (अन्यः वर्णः)

• कदाचन: ever/at any time
• कदाचन: Kāla-kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Time adverb/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कदाचन (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (कालवाचक/indefinite time adverb)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Tila-dāna and go-dāna are ‘mahādāna’ and destroy even great sins; they are to be given specifically to brāhmaṇas.

Vedantic Theme: Karma purification through prescribed dharma; emphasis on adhikāra (eligibility) and proper channeling of merit.

Application: If following traditional injunctions, prioritize high-impact giving (sustenance, livelihood) and ensure appropriateness/competence of recipients; maintain sincerity and non-harm.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: go-dāna/tila-dāna praises (general); Garuda Purana: mahāpātaka-nāśana measures (general)

Characters & Entities

• Brahmana (Vipra)

FAQs

What is the importance of sesame (til) and cow (go) donation in the Garuda Purana?

This verse calls til-dāna and go-dāna “mahādāna,” stating they are capable of destroying even mahāpātakas (grave sins), making them especially valued in rites connected with purification and post-death observances.

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

In the Preta Kanda context, gifts (dāna) are presented as supports for merit and purification; this verse specifies two high-merit donations and emphasizes proper recipient selection (vipra), which is a recurring rule in śrāddha and related ritual frameworks.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice purposeful charity: when giving ritual charities like sesame or supporting cow-care, do so with discernment—offer to qualified, ethical recipients (or institutions aligned with dharmic intent) and with a sincere aim of purification and responsibility.