Shloka 52

Babhruvāhana Meets a Preta: Vṛṣotsarga, Heirless Death, and the Signs of Preta-Affliction

Devanagari script

सपिण्डैर्वा सगोत्रैर्वा निष्टुरैर्न कृतो हिमे / वृषोत्सर्गस्ततो दुष्टं प्रेतत्वं प्राप्तवानहम्

Transliteration

sapiṇḍairvā sagotrairvā niṣṭurairna kṛto hime / vṛṣotsargastato duṣṭaṃ pretatvaṃ prāptavānaham

Translation

لا أقاربي من السَّپِنْدَا (sapinda) ولا ذوو القُربى من نفس الغوترا (gotra) أقاموا لي شعيرةَ فْرِشوتسَرغا vṛṣotsarga، أي إطلاقَ الثور. لذلك، وأنا الشقيّ، وقعتُ في حالة البريتا.

Word by Word

• सपिण्डैः: by sapindas (close kin sharing the funeral offering)
• सपिण्डैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सपिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (स + पिण्ड; समानपिण्डसम्बन्धिनः)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्प (disjunctive particle)

• सगोत्रैः: by those of the same lineage
• सगोत्रैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सगोत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (स + गोत्र; समानगोत्रसम्बन्धिनः)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्प (disjunctive particle)

• निष्टुरैः: by the harsh/unkind (ones)
• निष्टुरैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निष्टुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (सपिण्डैः/सगोत्रैः)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation particle)

• कृतः: done, performed
• कृतः: Karta (Predicate complement/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) + कृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोग; (वृषोत्सर्गः) कृतः = performed

• हिमे: for me / of me
• हिमे: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6), एकवचन; मम (genitive) — पाठे 'हिमे' इति रूपं 'मयि/मम' इत्यर्थे प्राकृत/पाठभेदसम्भव

• वृषोत्सर्गः: the release/donation of a bull (vṛṣotsarga rite)
• वृषोत्सर्गः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृष + उत्सर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (वृषस्य उत्सर्गः)

• ततः: therefore, then
• ततः: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेतौ/क्रमे (therefore/then)

• दुष्टम्: evil, wretched
• दुष्टम्: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुष्ट (प्रातिपदिक; √दुष् + क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (प्रेतत्वम्)

• प्रेतत्वम्: preta-state
• प्रेतत्वम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेतत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• प्राप्तवान्: have attained, have come to
• प्राप्तवान्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + आप् (धातु) + प्राप्त (कृदन्त) + वान्
• Form: क्तवतु-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (perfect participle used as finite); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोग (I have attained)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

Speaker

A preta (departed soul) describing the cause of its restless state (as cited in the Vishnu–Garuda dialogue)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: After death; before full pacification/sapiṇḍīkaraṇa; vṛṣotsarga omission emphasized

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Neglect of prescribed funerary/ancillary rites by sapindas and gotra-kin can bind the departed to preta-hood.

Vedantic Theme: Karma intertwined with saṃskāra and social duty; omission (pratyavāya) yields adverse results.

Application: Families should complete required post-death rites (including vṛṣotsarga where tradition prescribes) and not abandon obligations due to conflict or stinginess.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Geographic Context

Type: ritual-social sphere (family lineage)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Śrāddha-kalpa: vṛṣotsarga and preta-śānti contexts; Pretakalpa: causes of preta-hood (ritual omissions, improper rites)

Characters & Entities

• Preta
• Sapinda
• Gotra-relatives

FAQs

What is the importance of vṛṣotsarga in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents vṛṣotsarga as a key post-death rite whose neglect can contribute to the deceased remaining in a preta (unsettled) condition rather than progressing onward.

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

It implies that the soul’s transition is supported by properly performed ancestral rites by sapinda and gotra kin; when these are withheld, the departed may linger as a preta, indicating an obstructed post-mortem journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Fulfill family funeral obligations conscientiously—coordinate shraddha-related duties and recommended rites—so the departed are honored and the living uphold dharma and social responsibility.