Shloka 61

Akālamṛtyu: Preta-state Categories and the Nārāyaṇa-bali / Ekoddiṣṭa Remedy

Devanagari script

(तिला लोहं हिरण्यं च कार्पासं लवणं तथा / सप्तधान्यं क्षितिर्गाव एकैकं पानं समृतम्

Transliteration

(tilā lohaṃ hiraṇyaṃ ca kārpāsaṃ lavaṇaṃ tathā / saptadhānyaṃ kṣitirgāva ekaikaṃ pānaṃ samṛtam

Translation

Vừng (mè), sắt, vàng, bông vải và cả muối; bảy loại ngũ cốc, một phần đất, và một con bò—mỗi thứ trong số ấy, dù chỉ bố thí riêng một món, cũng được tuyên dạy là một lễ cúng trọn vẹn (đầy công đức) cho người đã khuất.

Word by Word

• tilāḥ: sesame seeds
• tilāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• loham: iron
• loham: Samuccita-padārtha (समुच्चित पदार्थ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd—प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• hiraṇyam: gold
• hiraṇyam: Samuccita-padārtha (समुच्चित पदार्थ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hiraṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd—प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• kārpāsam: cotton
• kārpāsam: Samuccita-padārtha (समुच्चित पदार्थ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kārpāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd—प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• lavaṇam: salt
• lavaṇam: Samuccita-padārtha (समुच्चित पदार्थ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lavaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd—प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण अव्यय)

• sapta-dhānyam: seven kinds of grain
• sapta-dhānyam: Samuccita-padārtha (समुच्चित पदार्थ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sapta + dhānya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd—प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); dvigu (numerical)

• kṣitiḥ: earth (land)
• kṣitiḥ: Samuccita-padārtha (समुच्चित पदार्थ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣiti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• gāvaḥ: cows
• gāvaḥ: Samuccita-padārtha (समुच्चित पदार्थ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: go (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• eka-ekam: each, one by one
• eka-ekam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka + eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); used adverbially ‘one by one’ (अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोग)

• pānam: a gift/act of giving (pāna)
• pānam: Samuccita-padārtha (समुच्चित पदार्थ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd—प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• samṛtam: is prescribed/declared
• samṛtam: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ṛ (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative Singular (प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन); used predicatively ‘is declared/considered’

Speaker

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

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: As concluding/ancillary dāna component within śrāddha performance

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Even a single properly given item from the prescribed list can be ‘complete’ in merit when offered with right intent and context.

Vedantic Theme: Primacy of intention (bhāva/śraddhā) within karma; dharma as accessible through feasible acts.

Application: If resources are limited, give at least one prescribed item sincerely in the name of the departed, ensuring appropriateness and genuine benefit to the recipient.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: dāna/śrāddha distribution space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana śrāddha-dāna enumerations and dāna-mahātmyas in Pretakalpa sections

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Pitris
• Preta

FAQs

What is the importance of dāna (charitable gifting) in Garuda Purana death rituals?

This verse lists specific gifts (tilā, loha, hiraṇya, kārpāsa, lavaṇa, saptadhānya, land, cow) and states that even one of them, offered properly, is considered a complete meritorious act for the departed, supporting pitṛ-kārya and śrāddha intentions.

How does this verse relate to the journey of the soul after death in the Garuda Purana?

In the Preta Kanda context, prescribed dāna during śrāddha is taught as a means to aid the preta and satisfy the Pitṛs; such offerings are part of the ritual support system described for the post-death passage and welfare of the departed.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If full rites are difficult, one can still perform a focused, sincere act of charity aligned with śrāddha intent—such as donating food grains, sesame, or supporting cow-care/land-related charity—while dedicating the merit to the departed.