Shloka 25

Praise of Vṛṣotsarga (Bull-release), Worthy Dāna, and the Procedure for Kṣayāha & Ūrdhva-daihika Rites

Devanagari script

चतस्रो वत्सतर्यश्च पूर्वं समधिवासयेत् / प्रदक्षिणं ततः कुर्याद्धोमान्ते च विसर्जनम्

Transliteration

catasro vatsataryaśca pūrvaṃ samadhivāsayet / pradakṣiṇaṃ tataḥ kuryāddhomānte ca visarjanam

Translation

أولًا ينبغي أن يُقام طقسُ التقديس وتثبيتُ قرابين «ڤاتسَتَرِي» الأربع على الوجه اللائق؛ ثم تُؤدَّى البرادكشِنا، أي الطواف باتجاه اليمين. وعند تمام الهومة، يُجرى أيضًا طقسُ الفِسَرجَنَة (الختام والإذن بالانصراف) كما هو مقرر.

Word by Word

• चतस्रः: four
• चतस्रः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; संख्याविशेषण (numeral adjective)

• वत्सतर्यः: (four) vatsatarīs (ritual items/offerings named vatsatarī)
• वत्सतर्यः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वत्सतरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• पूर्वम्: first, beforehand
• पूर्वम्: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (Time adjunct/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• समधिवासयेत्: should establish/seat (them)
• समधिवासयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+अधि+वास् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; प्रेरणार्थक (causative sense: ‘cause to dwell/establish’)

• प्रदक्षिणम्: circumambulation (clockwise)
• प्रदक्षिणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रदक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (as object/act)

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (Sequence/क्रम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रमवाचक अव्यय (sequential adverb)

• कुर्यात्: should do/perform
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• होम-अन्ते: at the end of the fire-offering
• होम-अन्ते: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: होम (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘of homa’ + ‘end’)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• विसर्जनम्: dismissal/release (concluding rite)
• विसर्जनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विसर्जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

Speaker

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

Shraddha Ritual

Timing: At homa completion (ho-mānte) within the vṛṣotsarga-associated rite sequence.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual acts must be properly installed, honored, and formally concluded; completeness (pūrṇatā) is itself dharma.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-kāṇḍa as purifier (citta-śuddhi) preparing for higher knowledge/devotion.

Application: In any sacred undertaking: begin with proper preparation (adhi-vāsana), maintain right orientation and reverence (pradakṣiṇā), and end with conscious closure (visarjana) rather than abrupt stopping.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual space (yajñaśālā/vedi)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.14 (vṛṣotsarga/śrāddha-homa sequence; adhi-vāsana, pradakṣiṇā, visarjana instructions in adjacent verses)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of pradakshina and visarjana in Garuda Purana rites?

This verse presents them as essential concluding acts: circumambulation seals the rite in auspicious order, and visarjana formally releases the invoked ritual presence at the end of the homa.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana narrative?

By emphasizing correct performance and completion of post-death homa rites, it supports the broader Preta Kanda theme that proper ritual order aids the departed’s transition and reduces obstacles in the post-mortem journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Follow ritual procedures with clarity and completion—begin with proper consecration, maintain auspicious orientation (pradakshina), and always close practices respectfully (visarjana), whether in śrāddha, homa, or daily worship.