Shloka 30
Praise of Vṛṣotsarga (Bull-release), Worthy Dāna, and the Procedure for Kṣayāha & Ūrdhva-daihika Rites
उदकेचैव गन्तव्यं जलं तत्र प्रदापयेत् / यदिष्टं जीवतस्त्वासीत्तच्च दद्यात्स्वशक्तितः
udakecaiva gantavyaṃ jalaṃ tatra pradāpayet / yadiṣṭaṃ jīvatastvāsīttacca dadyātsvaśaktitaḥ
Man soll zu den Wassern gehen und dort Wasser als Opfer darbringen. Und was der Verstorbene zu Lebzeiten liebte, das soll man nach eigener Kraft als Gabe spenden.
Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda)
Beneficiary: Pitr
Concept: Śrāddha is to be done through udaka-offering and through dāna of what the deceased valued, proportionate to one’s śakti (capacity).
Vedantic Theme: Kartavya-karma with niṣkāma-bhāva; honoring saṃskāra and ṛṇa (pitṛ-ṛṇa) while maintaining moderation and truthfulness about one’s means.
Application: Perform water-offering at a clean waterbody/ghāṭa; give charity aligned with the departed’s cherished items/causes (food, clothing, lamp, cow-related gifts, education, etc.) without debt or display.
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: waterside/ghāṭa
Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa/Śrāddha sections on udaka-tarpaṇa and dāna according to capacity; Garuda Purana instructions on offering what is प्रिय (dear) to the departed as dāna
FAQs
This verse instructs that going to a water-source and offering water is a required act, understood as a supportive rite for the departed and a key component of post-death observances.
It says to give, as charity, items the person valued while alive—done within the family’s means—linking remembrance with dharmic giving rather than excessive display.
Perform simple water-offering with sincerity and give a modest, meaningful donation in the deceased’s memory (food, essentials, or a valued cause), keeping it within your capacity.