Shloka 24

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

Devanagari script

अष्टमूर्तेरधिष्ठानमतः शान्तिं प्रयच्छ मे / गङ्गायमुनयोः पेयमन्तर्वेदि तृणं चर

Transliteration

aṣṭamūrteradhiṣṭhānamataḥ śāntiṃ prayaccha me / gaṅgāyamunayoḥ peyamantarvedi tṛṇaṃ cara

Translation

O Wohnstatt des achtgestaltigen Herrn (Aṣṭamūrti), gewähre mir darum Frieden. Möge mein Trank das Wasser von Gaṅgā und Yamunā sein, und möge meine Weide das heilige Gras im inneren Altarraum sein.

Word by Word

• अष्टमूर्तेः: of the eight-formed (deity)
• अष्टमूर्तेः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्ट (प्रातिपदिक) + मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), षष्ठी (Genitive, 6th), एकवचन (Singular); द्विगु-समास: 'अष्ट मूर्तयः यस्य' (अष्टमूर्तिः)

• अधिष्ठानम्: abode/support
• अधिष्ठानम्: Karma/Predicate (Object or complement/कर्म/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधिष्ठान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc., 1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• अतः: therefore
• अतः: Sambandha (Logical connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Indeclinable), हेत्वर्थ/तस्मात्-अर्थे (therefore/from this)

• शान्तिम्: peace
• शान्तिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शान्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• प्रयच्छ: grant/give
• प्रयच्छ: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-यम् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• मे: to me / my
• मे: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/चतुर्थी (Gen./Dat., 6th/4th), एकवचन (Singular) — enclitic

• गङ्गायमुनयोः: of the Ganga and Yamuna
• गङ्गायमुनयोः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा (प्रातिपदिक) + यमुना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), षष्ठी (Genitive, 6th), द्विवचन (Dual); इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व: 'गङ्गा च यमुना च'

• पेयम्: drinkable water
• पेयम्: Karma/Predicate (Object or complement/कर्म/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc., 1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• अन्तर्वेदि: within the vedi (sacrificial enclosure)
• अन्तर्वेदि: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्तर् (अव्यय/उपसर्गसदृश) + वेदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास (indeclinable adverbial): 'वेद्याः अन्तरम्' → 'within the altar/vedi-area'

• तृणम्: grass
• तृणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तृण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• चर: graze/wander
• चर: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

Speaker

A ritual supplicant (as part of śānti-prayer/rite described by Lord Vishnu to Garuda)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: During śrāddha/funerary observances requiring purity and sanctified water

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Seeking śānti through sanctified supports: tīrtha-waters and vedic altar purity; surrender to the Lord’s eightfold manifestation (aṣṭamūrti).

Vedantic Theme: Purification of antaḥkaraṇa through sacred association (tīrtha, yajña-space) as preparation for higher knowledge and auspicious transition.

Application: Cultivate inner peace via daily purity practices—remembering sacred waters, maintaining a clean prayer space, and aligning conduct with sanctity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Geographic Context

Type: tirtha/altar-space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: śānti-prārthanā and śrāddha purity requirements in adjacent ritual instructions

Characters & Entities

• Aṣṭamūrti (Śiva)
• Ganga
• Yamuna

FAQs

What is the importance of invoking Aṣṭamūrti in Garuda Purana rites?

This verse treats the Eight-Formed Lord as the cosmic support and asks for śānti (appeasement/peace), aligning the rite with universal order so obstacles to peace—especially in post-death transitions—are calmed.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana death rituals and purification?

By requesting Gaṅgā–Yamunā water as the proper “drink” and the antarvedi grass as the proper “sustenance,” it frames purity through sacred waters and ritual precincts—core elements in rites meant to pacify and protect the departed.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

In śrāddha or remembrance observances, prioritize purity of intention and sanctified offerings—clean water (ideally from sacred sources) and properly prepared ritual space—while making a sincere prayer for peace.