Shloka 23

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

Devanagari script

आशासते सुतं जातं वृषोत्सर्गं करिष्यति / धर्मस्त्वं वृषरूपेण जगदानन्ददायकः

Transliteration

āśāsate sutaṃ jātaṃ vṛṣotsargaṃ kariṣyati / dharmastvaṃ vṛṣarūpeṇa jagadānandadāyakaḥ

Translation

Sie hoffen, dass, wenn ein Sohn geboren wird, er das Ritual der Freilassung des Stieres (vṛṣotsarga) vollzieht. Denn du bist Dharma selbst, in Stiergestalt, der der Welt Freude schenkt.

Word by Word

• आशासते: they hope/expect
• आशासते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-शास् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural), आत्मनेपद

• सुतम्: a son
• सुतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• जातम्: born
• जातम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जन् (धातु) + त (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (Past passive participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• वृषोत्सर्गम्: the release/donation of a bull (vṛṣotsarga)
• वृषोत्सर्गम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृष (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्सर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): 'वृषस्य उत्सर्गः'

• करिष्यति: he will do
• करिष्यति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple future), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• धर्मः: Dharma
• धर्मः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative, 1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Sambodhyartha/Subject-apposition (Address/सम्बोधनार्थ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुषार्थे (2nd person pronoun), प्रथमा (Nominative, 1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• वृषरूपेण: in the form of a bull
• वृषरूपेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृष (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया (Instrumental, 3rd), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुषार्थे: 'वृषस्य रूपम्'

• जगदानन्ददायकः: giver of joy to the world
• जगदानन्ददायकः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक) + आनन्द (प्रातिपदिक) + दायक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative, 1st), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'जगतः आनन्दस्य दायकः'

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Post-death śrāddha context; performed as part of funerary support rites (as described in Pretakalpa sequence)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Vṛṣotsarga as a dharmic act; the bull is Dharma’s form and a vehicle of auspicious welfare.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as cosmic order (ṛta/dharma) manifest in symbol and rite; right action sustains loka-saṅgraha.

Application: Support elders and perform prescribed ancestral/funerary duties; treat ritual charity as an ethical commitment, not mere formality.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: vṛṣotsarga/śrāddha-vidhi passages nearby in 2.6; Garuda Purana: Yama/Dharmarāja context in Pretakalpa chapters

Characters & Entities

• Dharma

FAQs

What is the importance of vṛṣotsarga in Garuda Purana?

This verse frames vṛṣotsarga as a key filial duty expected of a son, connected to Dharma itself—suggesting it supports righteous order and brings auspiciousness in post-death/ancestor contexts.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

Indirectly, it emphasizes that the living—especially the son—are expected to perform prescribed rites; in the Preta Kanda these acts are taught as supportive observances for the departed and for maintaining dharma in the transition after death.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Honor dharma through responsible family duties: perform appropriate memorial/ancestor rites per tradition and means, and cultivate ethical living—since the verse equates true ritual intention with Dharma as a world-benefiting principle.