Shloka 35

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

Devanagari script

ब्राह्मणान् भोजयेत्पश्चादेकां गां च प्रदापयेत् / वृषं हि शन्नोदेवीति वेदोक्तविधिना ततः

Transliteration

brāhmaṇān bhojayetpaścādekāṃ gāṃ ca pradāpayet / vṛṣaṃ hi śannodevīti vedoktavidhinā tataḥ

Translation

Danach soll man die Brāhmaṇas speisen und sodann eine einzige Kuh verschenken. Daraufhin soll man, nach der von den Veden gebotenen Weise, auch einen Stier darbringen, indem man die vedische Formel rezitiert, die mit „śanno devī…“ beginnt.

Word by Word

• ब्राह्मणान्: Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणान्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), बहुवचन

• भोजयेत्: should cause to eat / should feed
• भोजयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु) + णिच् (causative)
• Form: लोट्/विधिलिङ् (optative/imperative sense), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; णिजन्त (causative)

• पश्चात्: afterwards
• पश्चात्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पश्चात् (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• एकाम्: one (female)
• एकाम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; संख्यावाचक-विशेषण

• गाम्: cow
• गाम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

• प्रदापयेत्: should cause to be given / should bestow
• प्रदापयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु) + प्र (उपसर्ग) + णिच् (causative)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; णिजन्त (causative)

• वृषम्: bull
• वृषम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• हि: indeed / for
• हि: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis/causal)

• शन्नोदेवीति: (uttering) ‘śam no devī’ thus
• शन्नोदेवीति: Kriya-visheshana (Manner/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शम् + नः + देवी + इति (पदमाला/मन्त्रपाठ)
• Form: मन्त्र-उद्धरण (quoted mantra) + इति-निपात (quotative particle)

• वेदोक्तविधिना: by the procedure prescribed in the Veda
• वेदोक्तविधिना: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद-उक्त-विधि (प्रातिपदिक; वेद + उक्त + विधि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (वेदेन उक्तः विधिः)

• ततः: then / thereafter
• ततः: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: देश/कालवाचक-अव्यय (thereafter/from that)

Speaker

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

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: After the principal śrāddha acts (post-rite sequence)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śrāddha is completed by brāhmaṇa-bhojana and go-dāna performed with Vedic mantras; correctness of vidhi safeguards efficacy.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-kāṇḍa as purifier (citta-śuddhi) and as support for dharma; action offered in conformity with śruti becomes a means to inner steadiness.

Application: After the main śrāddha acts, feed qualified brāhmaṇas, give a cow as dāna, and perform the bull-offering step strictly with the prescribed Vedic mantra and procedure.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: griha/śrāddha-vedi (household ritual space)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa/Śrāddha-kalpa sections on go-dāna, vṛṣotsarga, and brāhmaṇa-bhojana (adjacent verses 2.14.34–40)

Characters & Entities

• Brāhmaṇas
• Vedas

FAQs

What is the importance of feeding Brāhmaṇas in Garuda Purana death rituals?

This verse presents brāhmaṇa-bhojana as an essential concluding act that supports dharmic completion of post-death rites and accrues merit (puṇya) for the departed and the family.

Why does the Garuda Purana prescribe go-dāna (cow donation) and vṛṣa-dāna (bull donation)?

The verse frames these gifts as Veda-aligned dānas performed after the rite, indicating they are meant to be done as authoritative, merit-generating offerings that aid auspiciousness and ritual fulfillment.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If traditional dāna is feasible, do it respectfully and in a Veda-consistent way; otherwise, preserve the principle by offering food/charity to worthy recipients and supporting dharmic causes in the departed’s name.