Shloka 131

Dāna as Prāyaścitta; Deathbed Gifts; Antyeṣṭi Procedures; Nārāyaṇa-bali for Untimely Deaths

Devanagari script

यमोद्देशेतिलांल्लौहं ततो दद्याच्च दक्षिणाम् / एवं विष्णुबलिं दत्त्वा यथाशक्त्या विधानतः

Transliteration

yamoddeśetilāṃllauhaṃ tato dadyācca dakṣiṇām / evaṃ viṣṇubaliṃ dattvā yathāśaktyā vidhānataḥ

Translation

ณสถานที่ที่กำหนดสำหรับยม พึงถวายงาและเหล็ก แล้วจึงให้ทักษิณา; ครั้นถวายวิษณุพลีแล้ว พึงประกอบพิธีตามกำลังและตามบทบัญญัติ

Word by Word

• यम-उद्देशे: in the rite addressed to Yama
• यम-उद्देशे: Adhikaraṇa (Context/occasion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यम (प्रातिपदिक) + उद्देश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (यमस्य उद्देशः); पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तिलान्: sesame seeds
• तिलान्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• लौहम्: iron (article)
• लौहम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लौह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रमवाचक (then)

• दद्यात्: should give
• दद्यात्: Kriyā (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (and)

• दक्षिणाम्: a fee/donation
• दक्षिणाम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्षिणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (thus)

• विष्णुबलिम्: Viṣṇu-offering (bali)
• विष्णुबलिम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक) + बलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (विष्णोः बलिः); पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• दत्त्वा: having given
• दत्त्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); अव्ययभाव (having given)

• यथा: according to
• यथा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (according to)

• शक्त्या: with one's ability
• शक्त्या: Karaṇa (Measure/means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• विधानतः: as per the prescribed method
• विधानतः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विधान (प्रातिपदिक) + तस् (तद्धित, अव्यय)
• Form: तद्धितान्त-अव्यय (तस्); प्रकारवाचक (according to the procedure)

Speaker

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

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Yama-designated segment and concluding Viṣṇu-bali within śrāddha sequence

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Appeasing/acknowledging Yama through tila and iron dāna with dakṣiṇā, and completing the rite with Viṣṇu-bali according to śāstra and one’s means.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as cosmic governance (Yama) and grace-oriented protection (Viṣṇu); niyama with yathāśakti principle.

Application: Offer sesame and iron at the Yama-designated segment; give dakṣiṇā; perform Viṣṇu-bali properly, scaling gifts to capacity without abandoning essentials.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: ritual designation within śrāddha ground

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: Yama-related dānas (tila, loha) and Viṣṇu-bali within śrāddha/antyeṣṭi adjuncts (2.4.127–131)

Characters & Entities

• Yama
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of offering sesame and iron in Yama-related rites in the Garuda Purana?

This verse directs tila (sesame) and lauha (iron) as specific ritual gifts connected with Yama’s domain, followed by dakṣiṇā—indicating a prescribed, merit-oriented act within preta-rites.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey after death?

In the Preta Kanda context, such offerings are part of the structured support-rites performed by the living for the departed, emphasizing correct procedure (vidhānataḥ) and timely giving (dāna/dakṣiṇā) associated with Yama’s sphere.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform remembrance/śrāddha-related duties with sincerity, follow proper guidelines, and give charity and dakṣiṇā within your means (yathāśakti), keeping the act aligned with dharma rather than display.