Shloka 65

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

Devanagari script

इन्द्रतीर्थं कुरुक्षेत्रं यत्र प्राची सरस्वती / तापी पयोष्णी निर्विन्ध्या मलयः कृष्णवेणिका

Transliteration

indratīrthaṃ kurukṣetraṃ yatra prācī sarasvatī / tāpī payoṣṇī nirvindhyā malayaḥ kṛṣṇaveṇikā

Translation

Indra-tīrtha und Kurukṣetra—wo die Sarasvatī ostwärts fließt; dazu die heiligen Stätten der Flüsse Tāpī, Payoṣṇī und Nirvindhyā sowie Malaya und Kṛṣṇaveṇikā—sie alle sind als tīrthas berühmt.

Word by Word

• इन्द्रतीर्थम्: Indra-tīrtha
• इन्द्रतीर्थम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक) + तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (इन्द्रस्य तीर्थम्)

• कुरुक्षेत्रम्: Kurukṣetra
• कुरुक्षेत्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुरु (प्रातिपदिक) + क्षेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (कुरूणां क्षेत्रम्)

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; स्थानवाचक (where)

• प्राची: Prācī (river)
• प्राची: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राची (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नदी/दिक्-नाम (here: river-name)

• सरस्वती: Sarasvatī (river)
• सरस्वती: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सरस्वती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नदी-नाम

• तापी: Tāpī (river)
• तापी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तापी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नदी-नाम

• पयोष्णी: Payoṣṇī (river)
• पयोष्णी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पयोष्णी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नदी-नाम

• निर्विन्ध्या: Nirvindhyā (river)
• निर्विन्ध्या: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निर्विन्ध्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नदी-नाम

• मलयः: Malaya (mountain/region)
• मलयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मलय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; पर्वत/प्रदेश-नाम

• कृष्णवेणिका: Kṛṣṇaveṇikā (river)
• कृष्णवेणिका: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + वेणिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (कृष्णा वेणिका) नदी-नाम

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dharma is anchored in kṣetra (Kurukṣetra) and tīrtha (rivers); sacred geography supports purification and right action.

Vedantic Theme: Antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi through tīrtha-sevā and dharma; external pilgrimage as aid to inner purification leading toward knowledge/bhakti.

Application: Engage in snāna/ācamanam with sankalpa at rivers (or symbolic water practice), study dharma teachings associated with Kurukṣetra, and cultivate truthfulness aligned with ‘Satyatīrtha’ ethos (from the sequence).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: tirtha and sacred rivers/regions

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.6 (continuation of tīrtha catalogue)

Characters & Entities

• Indra
• Sarasvati
• Tapi
• Payosni
• Nirvindhya
• Malaya
• Krishnaveni(ka)
• Kurukshetra

FAQs

What is the importance of tīrthas like Kurukṣetra in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents Kurukṣetra and other tīrthas as renowned sacred locations, implying their special merit (puṇya) for religious acts such as bathing, vows, and rites connected with the departed.

How does this verse relate to rites for the departed (śrāddha/pinda-dāna)?

Within the Preta-kāṇḍa context, the listing of holy rivers and tīrthas functions as guidance on spiritually potent places traditionally associated with purification and offerings that support ancestral and post-death observances.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Even if one cannot travel, one can honor the intent by performing śrāddha with sincerity, remembering these tīrthas, and supporting dharmic acts (charity, truthfulness, non-harm) as the core purifier.