Shloka 23

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

Devanagari script

मातॄणां पूजनं कार्यं वसोर्धारां च पातयेत् / वह्निं संस्थाप्य तत्रैव पूर्णं होमं तु कारयेत्

Transliteration

mātṝṇāṃ pūjanaṃ kāryaṃ vasordhārāṃ ca pātayet / vahniṃ saṃsthāpya tatraiva pūrṇaṃ homaṃ tu kārayet

Translation

Man soll die Mātṛs (die göttlichen Mütter) verehren und auch die Vasordhārā—einen ununterbrochenen Strom von Ghee—darbringen. Nachdem man dort selbst das heilige Feuer errichtet hat, soll man anschließend ein vollständiges Homa vollziehen lassen.

Word by Word

• mātṝṇām: of the Mothers (Mātṛs)
• mātṝṇām: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• pūjanam: worship
• pūjanam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pūjana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• kāryam: is to be done/should be performed
• kāryam: Kriya (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kārya (कृ धातु + यत्) (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/भाव्य); नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विधेय-विशेषणम् (to be done)

• vasoḥ: of Vasu
• vasoḥ: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vasu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• dhārām: a stream/pouring
• dhārām: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhārā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययम्

• pātayet: should pour/let flow
• pātayet: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pat (पत् धातु) (णिच्) → pātay (causative)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; णिजन्त (causative): ‘cause to fall/pour’

• vahnim: fire (Agni)
• vahnim: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vahni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• saṃsthāpya: having installed
• saṃsthāpya: Kriya-viseshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sam-sthā (स्था धातु) + णिच् → saṃsthāpay + ल्यप् → saṃsthāpya (कृदन्त-अव्यय)
• Form: ल्यपन्त-अव्ययम् (absolutive/gerund): ‘having installed/established’

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्ययम् (locative adverb: there)

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-निपातः

• pūrṇam: complete/full
• pūrṇam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pūrṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (homam)

• homam: homa
• homam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: homa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• tu: then/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; अवधारण/विरोधार्थक-निपातः

• kārayet: should have (it) performed
• kārayet: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (कृ धातु) (णिच्) → kāray
• Form: विधिलिङ्, परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; णिजन्त (causative): ‘cause to be done’

Speaker

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

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Invoke protective divine forces (Mātṛs), offer continuous ghee stream (Vasordhārā), establish Agni, and complete the homa for ritual wholeness.

Vedantic Theme: Ritual completeness (pūrṇatā) and continuity symbolize sustained merit and ordered duty; the sacred fire as witness (sākṣin) to karma.

Application: Include prescribed pūrvāṅga devatā worship; maintain continuity and attentiveness in offerings; ensure rites are properly concluded, not left partial.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: fire-altar space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.14 (pūjā → vasordhārā → agni-sthāpana → pūrṇa-homa)

Characters & Entities

• Matrikas (Mātṛs)
• Agni
• Vasus (implied by Vasordhārā)

FAQs

What is the importance of Vasordhārā in Garuda Purana death rituals?

This verse prescribes Vasordhārā—continuous pouring of ghee/oblations—as a key rite alongside worship of the Mātṛs and a full homa, indicating it is considered ritually strengthening and completion-oriented within the prescribed ceremonies.

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

In the Preta Kanda context, correctly performed rites (puja and homa) are taught as supportive dharmic acts done for the departed; this verse highlights specific ritual steps believed to aid orderly post-death observances rather than describing punishments or Yama’s path directly.

What is a practical application of this teaching today?

If one follows traditional śrāddha/funeral observances, this verse emphasizes doing them systematically—honoring the prescribed deities (Mātṛs), maintaining continuity in offerings (Vasordhārā), and completing the rite with a proper homa under competent guidance.