Shloka 74

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

Devanagari script

सरस्वतीदृषद्वत्यौ नर्मदा शर्मदा नृणाम् / नीलकण्ठं महाकालं पुण्यं चामरकण्टकम्

Transliteration

sarasvatīdṛṣadvatyau narmadā śarmadā nṛṇām / nīlakaṇṭhaṃ mahākālaṃ puṇyaṃ cāmarakaṇṭakam

Translation

Sarasvatī und Dṛṣadvatī sowie die Narmadā, die den Menschen Wohlergehen schenkt; ferner Nīlakaṇṭha, Mahākāla und das heilige Amarakantaka—sie alle gelten als überaus heilig.

Word by Word

• सरस्वतीदृषद्वत्यौ: Sarasvatī and Dṛṣadvatī
• सरस्वतीदृषद्वत्यौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सरस्वती + दृषद्वती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; कर्तृ/उद्देश्य-निर्देश (naming/listing)

• नर्मदा: Narmadā
• नर्मदा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर्मदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• शर्मदा: bestowing happiness/comfort
• शर्मदा: Visheshana (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शर्मदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण—नर्मदायाः

• नृणाम्: of men/people
• नृणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध (genitive)

• नीलकण्ठम्: Nīlakaṇṭha (blue-throated; Śiva/name)
• नीलकण्ठम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नील + कण्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्मपद (listed object/name)

• महाकालम्: Mahākāla
• महाकालम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• पुण्यम्: holy, meritorious
• पुण्यम्: Visheshana (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण—अमरकण्टकम्

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• अमरकण्टकम्: Amarakāṇṭaka (Amarakanṭaka)
• अमरकण्टकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमर + कण्टक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्मपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Smaraṇa and honoring of renowned tīrthas is itself a purifier and supports dhārmic orientation.

Vedantic Theme: External sacred geography as an aid to antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi, preparing the seeker for higher realization.

Application: Keep a tīrtha-smaraṇa practice (daily remembrance), and when possible undertake pilgrimage with vows of non-harm, truthfulness, and charity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: rivers and major shrine-kṣetras/mountain source region

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.6.73–77 (catalog of tīrthas and their fruit)

Characters & Entities

• Sarasvati
• Drishadvati
• Narmada
• Nilakantha (Shiva)
• Mahakala (Shiva)
• Amarakantaka

FAQs

What is the importance of sacred rivers and tirthas in the Garuda Purana?

This verse lists revered rivers and holy sites, indicating that contact with such tirthas is considered merit-giving (puṇya) and supportive for purification connected with śrāddha and other post-death observances.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey after death in the Garuda Purana?

In the Preta-kāṇḍa context, sacred geography is often invoked as a means of accruing merit and purification, which is taught as beneficial for the departed (preta) through rites and remembrance of holy tirthas.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Remember and honor sacred places through ethical living, sincere prayer, and—where appropriate—performing śrāddha/pinda offerings with purity of intention, keeping the focus on dharma and remembrance of the departed.