Shloka 17

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

Devanagari script

चतसृभिर्वत्सकाभिर्द्वाभ्याञ्चैवैकया खग / विवाह्य मङ्गलद्रव्यैर्मन्त्रवत्तं समुत्सृजेत्

Transliteration

catasṛbhirvatsakābhirdvābhyāñcaivaikayā khaga / vivāhya maṅgaladravyairmantravattaṃ samutsṛjet

Translation

O Vogel (Garuda), nachdem man ihn rituell „verheiratet“ (d. h. geweiht) hat—mit vier, oder mit zwei, oder auch nur mit einem jungen Kuhkalb—und unter Verwendung glückverheißender Dinge bei Mantra-Rezitation, soll man ihn sodann nach Vorschrift freilassen.

Word by Word

• चतसृभिः: with four
• चतसृभिः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतस् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; संख्यावाचक-विशेषण (qualifying vatsakābhiḥ)

• वत्सकाभिः: with heifer-calves
• वत्सकाभिः: Sahakari/Karana (Accompaniment/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वत्सका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• द्वाभ्याम्: with two
• द्वाभ्याम्: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), द्विवचन; संख्यावाचक-विशेषण (elliptic: ‘with two [vatsakābhiḥ]’)

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

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (emphasis: ‘indeed/just’)

• एकया: with one
• एकया: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; संख्यावाचक-विशेषण (elliptic: ‘with one [vatsakā]’)

• खग: O bird (Garuda)
• खग: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• विवाह्य: having married (it)
• विवाह्य: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वि + वह् (धातु) → विवाह्य (कृदन्त; ल्यप्/absolutive)
• Form: कृदन्त-अव्यय (ल्यप्/क्त्वा-अर्थे; gerund): ‘having married/caused to be wedded’

• मङ्गल-द्रव्यैः: with auspicious items
• मङ्गल-द्रव्यैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मङ्गल (प्रातिपदिक) + द्रव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (मङ्गलानि द्रव्याणि)

• मन्त्रवत्: with mantras
• मन्त्रवत्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + वत् (तद्धित)
• Form: अव्यय (वत्-प्रत्ययान्त; adverb: ‘with mantras/according to mantra’)

• तम्: him/that (bull)
• तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• समुत्सृजेत्: should release/let loose
• समुत्सृजेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + उत् + सृज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

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

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Within post-death śrāddha auxiliaries (vṛṣotsarga sequence)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Mantra and maṅgala-dravya, with prescribed pairing (4/2/1 heifers), sacralize the act; correct procedure transforms a practical act into dharmic efficacy.

Vedantic Theme: Saṃskāra as refinement of action; intention + mantra + vidhi align karma toward śreyas for both living and departed.

Application: When performing consequential duties, formalize them with clear steps, witnesses, and mindful speech; completion (release/hand-off) is part of responsibility.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual ground / cowshed vicinity

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: detailed vṛṣotsarga mantras and maṅgala-dravya lists (contextual); Garuda Purana: śrāddha-aṅga rites where mantra-śuddhi is emphasized

Characters & Entities

• Garuda (Khaga)
• Cows (Vatsaka)

FAQs

What is the importance of ritually ‘marrying’ (vivāhya) in Garuda Purana rites?

In this verse, “vivāhya” indicates a formal consecration—sanctifying the act with auspicious materials and mantras—so the offering becomes ritually valid and spiritually efficacious rather than a mere physical act.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana death rituals?

Placed in the Preta Kanda context, it describes a mantra-guided procedure involving cows (vatsakā) and an act of release (utsarga), reflecting how donations/offerings are formalized to support the departed through prescribed rites.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform any charity or ritual support for ancestors with correctness, purity, and intention—using traditional guidance, auspicious preparation, and reverence—rather than treating it as a casual or purely symbolic act.