Shloka 57

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

Devanagari script

भर्यया धर्मचारिण्या तीर्थयात्रां विनिर्गतः / कृत्वा तीर्थानि विधिवद्विश्राण्य विपुलं वसु

Transliteration

bharyayā dharmacāriṇyā tīrthayātrāṃ vinirgataḥ / kṛtvā tīrthāni vidhivadviśrāṇya vipulaṃ vasu

Translation

Mit seiner tugendhaften, dharmatreuen Gattin brach er zur Tīrtha‑Pilgerreise auf. Nachdem er die Tīrthas ordnungsgemäß besucht hatte, verschenkte er reichlich Vermögen als Gabe.

Word by Word

• भर्यया: with (his) wife
• भर्यया: Sahakari (Association/सहकारी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भर्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया) एकवचनम्

• धर्मचारिण्या: who follows dharma
• धर्मचारिण्या: Sahakari (Association qualifier/सहकारी-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म + चारिणी (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया) एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (dharmaṃ carati = 'one who practices dharma')

• तीर्थयात्राम्: a pilgrimage journey
• तीर्थयात्राम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ + यात्रा (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया) एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (pilgrimage-journey)

• विनिर्गतः: set out/departed
• विनिर्गतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु) + निर् + वि (उपसर्ग)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (PPP used actively) पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा) एकवचनम्; (he) 'having gone out/set forth'

• कृत्वा: having done/visited
• कृत्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्तम् (gerund/absolutive)

• तीर्थानि: holy places
• तीर्थानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया) बहुवचनम्

• विधिवत्: duly/according to rite
• विधिवत्: Kriya-visheshana (Manner/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विधिवत् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्ययम् (adverb: 'according to rule')

• विश्राण्य: having bestowed
• विश्राण्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्राण्/श्रि (धातु) + वि (उपसर्ग)
• Form: ल्यप्/क्त्वा-समकक्ष-अव्ययकृदन्तम् (gerund in -ya; 'having bestowed/given')

• विपुलम्: abundant
• विपुलम्: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विपुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया) एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• वसु: wealth
• वसु: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया) एकवचनम्

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Householder dharma includes shared pilgrimage with a dharma-observing spouse, proper observance (vidhivat), and generous charity (dāna).

Vedantic Theme: Purification of antaḥkaraṇa through karma done in a sattvic spirit; partnership in dharma as support for spiritual maturation.

Application: Undertake spiritually meaningful journeys with ethical companions; follow local/śāstric guidelines; give proportionately and thoughtfully to worthy recipients.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Geographic Context

Type: pilgrimage-route

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: repeated praise of dāna and tīrtha-sevā as puṇya; householders’ duties (general thematic parallel)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Tirthas

FAQs

What is the importance of tīrtha-yātrā (pilgrimage) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents pilgrimage as a regulated dharmic act (vidhivat) that generates merit, especially when accompanied by charity (dāna) and righteous conduct.

How does this verse connect charity and pilgrimage to after-death outcomes?

By pairing tīrtha visitation with abundant giving, the verse implies that merit (puṇya) is strengthened through both sacred observance and compassionate generosity—key themes in Preta Kanda discussions on post-death welfare.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Undertake spiritual practices with ethical discipline, and if you visit holy places, support worthy causes through honest charity rather than treating pilgrimage as mere travel.