Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 27

Vṛṣotsarga (Bull-Release Gift): Procedure, Merit, and Narratives on Dharma, Karma, and Liberation

Devanagari script

तस्माद्राजन् विधानेन वृषोत्सर्गं समाचर / बहुसाधनयुक्तस्य नान्यथा सद्गतिस्तव

Transliteration

tasmādrājan vidhānena vṛṣotsargaṃ samācara / bahusādhanayuktasya nānyathā sadgatistava

Translation

لذلك، أيها الملك، أَدِّ شعيرة إطلاق الثور (فريشوتسارغا) على الوجه المرسوم وفق الأحكام؛ فإن من تزوّد بكثيرٍ من عُدَدِ الطقوس لا طريقَ لك سواه لبلوغ المصير الحسن بعد الموت.

Word by Word

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Sambandha (Logical connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तस्मात्-इति अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः (indeclinable in sense 'therefore/from that')

• राजन्: O king
• राजन्: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सम्बोधन (Vocative, 8th), एकवचन (Singular)

• विधानेन: by the prescribed procedure
• विधानेन: Karana (Instrument/means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया (Instrumental, 3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• वृषोत्सर्गम्: bull-release rite (vṛṣotsarga)
• वृषोत्सर्गम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृष (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्सर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'वृषस्य उत्सर्गः'

• समाचर: perform/practise
• समाचर: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-चर् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• बहुसाधनयुक्तस्य: of one endowed with many means/resources
• बहुसाधनयुक्तस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक) + साधन (प्रातिपदिक) + युक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (Past passive participle/क्त) as adjective; पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Masculine/Neuter), षष्ठी (Genitive, 6th), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष: 'बहुभिः साधनैः युक्तस्य'

• न: not
• न: Negation (Nishedha/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negative particle)

• अन्यथा: otherwise
• अन्यथा: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Indeclinable), प्रकारवाचक (adverb of manner)

• सद्गतिः: good destination/salvation
• सद्गतिः: Karta/Predicate (Subject/complement/कर्ता/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक) + गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative, 1st), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष: 'सत् एव गतिः'

• तव: your
• तव: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive, 6th), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to a king, within the Vishnu–Garuda dialogue frame)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: As prescribed within funerary/śrāddha observances; to be done ‘vidhānena’ (per procedure)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Perform vṛṣotsarga strictly by vidhi; ritual supports (bahu-sādhana) are necessary for attaining a good post-death destination.

Vedantic Theme: Within pravṛtti-dharma, disciplined karma supports orderly transition; preparedness and right means (sādhana) condition outcomes.

Application: Plan end-of-life duties responsibly—ensure rites/charity/ethical obligations are arranged; follow trusted procedure rather than improvisation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: royal audience/teaching setting

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: sadgati vs durgati teachings; śrāddha and dāna as supports; Garuda Purana: instructions to kings/householders on funerary rites

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• King (Rajan)
• Dharma (ritual ordinance implied)

FAQs

What is the importance of vṛṣotsarga in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents vṛṣotsarga as a prescribed, rule-bound rite that supports the seeker’s attainment of sadgati, emphasizing that it is a key component among death-related ritual supports.

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

By stressing “sadgati” and the need for prescribed rites, the verse implies that post-death welfare is aided by properly performed dharmic rituals, rather than being secured by arbitrary or alternative methods.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Follow dharmic procedures with sincerity—especially in śrāddha/preta-kriyā contexts—and prioritize disciplined, rule-based charity and ritual observance rather than improvising religious duties.