Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 118

Vṛṣotsarga (Bull-Release Gift): Procedure, Merit, and Narratives on Dharma, Karma, and Liberation

Devanagari script

उभौ समौ मया दृष्टौ दिव्यौ तौ शक्रसन्निधौ / अतस्त्वं पुष्करं गत्वा वृषोत्सर्गं विधाय च

Transliteration

ubhau samau mayā dṛṣṭau divyau tau śakrasannidhau / atastvaṃ puṣkaraṃ gatvā vṛṣotsargaṃ vidhāya ca

Translation

Ich sah jene beiden als gleich—beide strahlend und göttlich—in Indras Gegenwart. Darum geh nach Puṣkara und vollziehe auch das Ritual der Freilassung eines Stieres (vṛṣotsarga).

Word by Word

• उभौ: both (two)
• उभौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), द्विवचन (Dual)

• समौ: equal, alike
• समौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; विशेषण (qualifier of उभौ)

• मया: by me
• मया: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• दृष्टौ: seen
• दृष्टौ: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु) → दृष्ट (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोगार्थ (seen)

• दिव्यौ: divine
• दिव्यौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; विशेषण (qualifier of उभौ)

• तौ: those two
• तौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• शक्रसन्निधौ: in the presence of Śakra (Indra)
• शक्रसन्निधौ: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्र (प्रातिपदिक) + सन्निधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative) समास; पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• अतः: therefore
• अतः: Sambandha (Discourse connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थ-निपात (therefore/for this reason)

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: मध्यमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पुष्करम्: Puṣkara (place)
• पुष्करम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; गमनस्य कर्म (destination as object)

• गत्वा: having gone
• गत्वा: Kriya-viseshana (Adverbial to action/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: गम् (धातु) → गत्वा (क्त्वान्त-अव्यय, absolutive)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (absolutive/gerund); पूर्वक्रिया (having gone)

• वृषोत्सर्गम्: the release/donation of a bull
• वृषोत्सर्गम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृष (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्सर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष समास; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• विधाय: having done/performed
• विधाय: Kriya-viseshana (Adverbial to action/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: धा (धातु) उपसर्ग-वि + विधाय (क्त्वान्त-अव्यय, absolutive)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (absolutive); पूर्वक्रिया (having performed)

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

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating/instructing Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Tīrtha-gamana and vṛṣotsarga as dharmic acts that equalize and elevate spiritual standing through prescribed ritual merit.

Vedantic Theme: Karma as a purifier (citta-śuddhi) preparing the aspirant for higher knowledge; dharma as supportive of inner equanimity.

Application: Undertake sanctioned charity/ritual acts at appropriate sacred places with right intention; support dharma through gifts that sustain life and social-religious order.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: tirtha (sacred lake/kshetra)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Preta-khanda): sections praising tīrtha-yātrā and śrāddha/dāna as merit-generators; Garuda Purana: dharma/dāna passages on go-dāna and animal-release rites (vṛṣotsarga) as expiatory/meritful

Characters & Entities

• Indra (Shakra)
• Puṣkara

FAQs

What is the importance of vṛṣotsarga in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats vṛṣotsarga as a recommended dharmic rite whose merit is significant enough to be explicitly instructed, implying it supports auspicious post-death outcomes and ritual completeness.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey after death?

In the Preta Kanda context, prescribed rites are presented as aids that improve the departed’s condition; here, the instruction to perform vṛṣotsarga at Puṣkara indicates ritual acts and tīrtha-performance are linked to beneficial results beyond death.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If following traditional śrāddha and post-death observances, consult qualified priests about ethically performed dāna/ritual equivalents and the role of tīrtha-based rites, focusing on sincere intention and dharmic conduct.