Shloka 40

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

Devanagari script

वस्त्रेणाच्छाद्य तत्रस्थमर्घं दद्याच्छुभैः फलैः / नावमिक्षुमयीं कृत्वा पट्टसूत्रेण वेष्टयेत्

Transliteration

vastreṇācchādya tatrasthamarghaṃ dadyācchubhaiḥ phalaiḥ / nāvamikṣumayīṃ kṛtvā paṭṭasūtreṇa veṣṭayet

Translation

Nachdem man die dort niedergelegte Gabe mit einem Tuch bedeckt hat, soll man Argha (ehrfürchtige Wasseropfergabe) zusammen mit glückverheißenden Früchten darbringen. Dann fertige man ein kleines Boot aus Zuckerrohr und binde es mit einem starken Faden fest.

Word by Word

• वस्त्रेण: with a cloth
• वस्त्रेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; Instrumental singular

• आच्छाद्य: having covered
• आच्छाद्य: Kriya (Adverbial action/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-छद् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), पूर्वकर्म; having covered

• तत्रस्थम्: situated there
• तत्रस्थम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तत्र + स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular qualifying अर्घम्

• अर्घम्: offering (arghya)
• अर्घम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्घ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; Accusative singular

• दद्यात्: should give
• दद्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; should give

• शुभैः: auspicious
• शुभैः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Instrumental plural qualifying फलैः

• फलैः: with fruits
• फलैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; Instrumental plural

• नावम्: a boat
• नावम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नौ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; Accusative singular

• इक्षुमयीम्: made of sugarcane
• इक्षुमयीम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इक्षु + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (इक्षोः मयी); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular qualifying नावम्

• कृत्वा: having made
• कृत्वा: Kriya (Adverbial action/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), पूर्वकर्म; having made

• पट्टसूत्रेण: with a ribbon-thread/strip-thread
• पट्टसूत्रेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पट्ट + सूत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; Instrumental singular

• वेष्टयेत्: should wrap
• वेष्टयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वेष्ट् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; should wrap

Speaker

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

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Post-death śrāddha sequence (as prescribed in the chapter’s rite order)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual correctness and auspicious offerings as dharmic support for the departed; symbolism (boat) embodies safe passage.

Vedantic Theme: Karma and saṃskāra: intentional acts (yajña/dāna/śrāddha) shape subtle outcomes; compassion expressed through dharma.

Application: Perform śrāddha with cleanliness and prescribed items; offer argha with auspicious fruits; craft the sugarcane boat and bind it securely as instructed.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: ritual-site

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: Vaitaraṇī-crossing aids and śrāddha-dāna sequences (adjacent verses 2.14.41–44); Garuda Purana: argha, tiladāna, and preta-upakāra discussions in śrāddha sections

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Pitris
• Pretas

FAQs

What is the importance of offering argha with auspicious fruits in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames argha and fruits as a respectful, auspicious oblation—meant to sanctify the rite and support the deceased’s post-death transition through properly performed offerings.

Why does the verse mention making a sugarcane boat (ikṣumayī nāvā)?

The instruction indicates a ritual implement shaped as a small boat, symbolically aiding passage/transition in the post-death context; it is to be prepared and secured as part of the prescribed preta-kritya.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Even when full traditional materials are unavailable, the takeaway is to perform memorial rites with cleanliness, reverence, and correctly intentioned offerings—avoiding negligence in duties toward ancestors and the departed.