Shloka 60

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

Devanagari script

दशाश्वमेधैरयजद्यत्र ब्रह्मा सुरेश्वरः / तीर्थराजस्ततः काशी महादेवो दयानिधिः

Transliteration

daśāśvamedhairayajadyatra brahmā sureśvaraḥ / tīrtharājastataḥ kāśī mahādevo dayānidhiḥ

Translation

Dort vollzog Brahmā — der Herr der Götter — das Opfer durch zehn Aśvamedhas. Darum ist Kāśī der König der tīrthas, wo Mahādeva, ein Ozean des Erbarmens, weilt.

Word by Word

• दश-अश्वमेधैः: with ten Aśvamedha sacrifices
• दश-अश्वमेधैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśa (प्रातिपदिक) + aśvamedha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया, बहुवचन; द्विगु-समास ('ten Aśvamedhas')

• अयजत्: performed sacrifice
• अयजत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √यज् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yatra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक सम्बन्धबोधक (relative adverb: where)

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सुरेश्वरः: lord of the gods
• सुरेश्वरः: Visheshana (Appositional/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sura (प्रातिपदिक) + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ('lord of the gods'); ब्रह्मणः विशेषण/उपाधि

• तीर्थ-राजः: king of pilgrimage places
• तीर्थ-राजः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tīrtha (प्रातिपदिक) + rāja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ('king of tīrthas')

• ततः: there/thereupon
• ततः: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तस्मात्/ततः (ablatival adverb: then/thereupon/from there)

• काशी: Kāśī (Vārāṇasī)
• काशी: Karta (Apposition/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāśī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; (place-name)

• महादेवः: Mahādeva (Śiva)
• महादेवः: Karta (Apposition/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय ('great god'); (Śiva)

• दया-निधिः: treasury of compassion
• दया-निधिः: Visheshana (Appositional/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dayā (प्रातिपदिक) + nidhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ('treasure of compassion'); महादेवस्य विशेषण

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Kāśī’s exceptional salvific status grounded in ancient sacrifice and Śiva’s grace; sacred place as catalyst for liberation-oriented remembrance.

Vedantic Theme: Grace (anugraha) and adhikāra: proximity to a kṣetra of intense sattva supports vairāgya and mumukṣutva.

Application: If visiting Kāśī, cultivate japa, charity, and contemplation of impermanence; treat the kṣetra as a setting for inner renunciation and devotion.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: city/tīrtha

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.6.61 (tāraka upadeśa at death, linked to Kāśī tradition)

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Kashi
• Mahadeva (Shiva)
• Devas

FAQs

What is the importance of Kashi in the Garuda Purana?

This verse declares Kāśī as “tīrtharāja,” the foremost pilgrimage site, sanctified by Brahmā’s great sacrifices and by Mahādeva’s compassionate presence.

How does this verse relate to death rituals and liberation?

In the Preta Kanda context, praising Kāśī as the supreme tīrtha supports the Garuda Purana theme that sacred places associated with Śiva are sought for auspicious death rites, merit, and liberation-oriented remembrance.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Honor sacred geography and compassion: practice devotion, ethical living, and remembrance of Mahādeva; if undertaking pilgrimage or śrāddha-related observances, do them with sincerity rather than mere ritual display.