Shloka 7

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

Devanagari script

तिला लोहं हिरण्यं च कर्पासं लवणं तथा / सप्तधान्यं क्षितिर्गाव एकैकं पावनं स्मृतम्

Transliteration

tilā lohaṃ hiraṇyaṃ ca karpāsaṃ lavaṇaṃ tathā / saptadhānyaṃ kṣitirgāva ekaikaṃ pāvanaṃ smṛtam

Translation

Hạt mè, sắt, vàng, bông vải và muối; cùng bảy loại ngũ cốc, đất đai và bò—mỗi thứ, xét riêng, đều được ghi nhớ là vật tịnh hóa trong nghi lễ như śrāddha và bố thí.

Word by Word

• tilāḥ: sesame seeds
• tilāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tilā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• loham: iron
• loham: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• hiraṇyam: gold
• hiraṇyam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hiraṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

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

• karpāsam: cotton
• karpāsam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karpāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• lavaṇam: salt
• lavaṇam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lavaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

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

• saptadhānyam: the seven grains
• saptadhānyam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sapta (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + dhānya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (numerical compound)

• kṣitiḥ: earth/land
• kṣitiḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣiti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• gāvaḥ: cows
• gāvaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: go (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• ekaikam: each one (individually)
• ekaikam: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक) + eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; अव्ययीभाव-समास (adverbial sense: 'one by one')

• pāvanam: purifying
• pāvanam: Pradhāna-viśeṣaṇa (Predicate adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pāvana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• smṛtam: is declared/considered
• smṛtam: Kriyā (Verbal predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √smṛ (धातु) + ta (क्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय), भूतकर्मणि/कर्मणि प्रयोग; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; 'is said/considered'

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Śrāddha occasions (parva/annual) and dāna contexts; also preparatory to antima-kāla rites.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Pavitrata through prescribed gifts/substances; material offerings as instruments of ritual and moral purification.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-kāṇḍa as citta-śuddhi leading toward higher pursuit; purification as support for dharma and eventual mokṣa-adhikāra.

Application: Use these items as eligible dāna/śrāddha offerings according to capacity; treat them as intentional acts of purification rather than mere transaction.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Preta/Śrāddha sections): discussions of tiladāna, ghṛtadāna, go-dāna, bhū-dāna, and mahādāna lists; Garuda Purana: antima-kāla dāna and path-provisions (pada) sequences following this verse

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Pitris

FAQs

What is the importance of these items (tilā, iron, gold, cotton, salt, grains, land, cows) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse lists traditional pāvana-dravyas—items considered spiritually purifying when offered in śrāddha-related charity, supporting Pitṛ-kārya and aiding the departed through sanctifying merit (puṇya).

How does this verse connect to the soul’s journey after death in the Preta Kanda?

In the Preta Kanda, the departed (preta) is supported by rites and gifts performed by the living; the verse identifies specific offerings believed to purify and strengthen the ritual efficacy that benefits the deceased and ancestors.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

During memorial rites or charitable acts in a deceased person’s name, one may prioritize simple, meaningful dāna—food grains, salt, cloth, or support for cows/land-related charity—done with sincerity and adherence to one’s tradition.