Shloka 10

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

Devanagari script

तिलापात्रं सर्पिः पात्रं शय्या सोपस्करा तथा / एतत्सर्वं प्रदातव्यं यदिष्टं चात्मनो ऽपि तत्

Transliteration

tilāpātraṃ sarpiḥ pātraṃ śayyā sopaskarā tathā / etatsarvaṃ pradātavyaṃ yadiṣṭaṃ cātmano 'pi tat

Translation

تل سے بھرا برتن، گھی کا برتن، اور سامان سمیت بستر—یہ سب دان کرنا چاہیے؛ اور جو چیز خود کو بھی عزیز ہو، اسے بھی خیرات میں پیش کرنا چاہیے۔

Word by Word

• tilāpātram: a vessel of sesame (sesame-container)
• tilāpātram: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tilā (प्रातिपदिक) + pātra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (tilānāṃ pātram / tilasya pātram)

• sarpiḥ: ghee
• sarpiḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarpis (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• pātram: vessel
• pātram: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pātra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• śayyā: bed
• śayyā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śayyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• sopaskarā: with accessories/with furnishings
• sopaskarā: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (उपसर्ग/सह) + upaskara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (upaskaraiḥ saha)

• tathā: also/likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (Linker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• etat: this
• etat: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• sarvam: all
• sarvam: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• pradātavyam: should be given
• pradātavyam: Kriyā (Verbal predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra + √dā (धातु) + tavya (तव्यत्)
• Form: कृदन्त (तव्यत्-प्रत्यय), कर्तव्यता (gerundive); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; 'is to be given'

• yadi: if
• yadi: Sambandha (Clause linker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conditional particle)

• iṣṭam: desired/pleasing
• iṣṭam: Pradhāna-viśeṣaṇa (Predicate adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √iṣ (धातु) + ta (क्त) / iṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय) विशेषण; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Linker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• ātmanaḥ: of oneself
• ātmanaḥ: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• api: also/even
• api: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle; 'also/even')

• tat: that
• tat: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

Speaker

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

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Antima-kāla and immediate post-death charity stream associated with śrāddha support.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Tyāga of even beloved possessions; charity as a direct antidote to clinging and fear at death.

Vedantic Theme: Vairāgya and aparigraha as supports for liberation-eligibility; karma-yoga spirit—offering without possessiveness.

Application: Practice deliberate giving of valued items (not only surplus); cultivate non-attachment; include tilā/ghṛta offerings where tradition is followed.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: household/ritual space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: repeated emphasis on tiladāna and ghṛtadāna in śrāddha/pretakalpa contexts; Garuda Purana: teachings on letting go of possessions at death

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of donating sesame and ghee in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents tilā (sesame) and sarpiḥ (ghee) as key charity-items, emphasizing ritual purity and merit (puṇya) through prescribed gifts connected with post-death rites and dharmic generosity.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

Indirectly, it supports the Preta Kanda theme that proper charity and rite-aligned giving aid the departed’s welfare and reduce obstacles in the post-death journey by accruing merit for the deceased and/or the family.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice intentional giving: donate essential, wholesome items (food staples, clarified butter, bedding/comfort supplies) and cultivate non-attachment by giving even what you personally value, in a dharmic and compassionate way.