Shloka 72

Babhruvāhana Meets a Preta: Vṛṣotsarga, Heirless Death, and the Signs of Preta-Affliction

Devanagari script

स कार्तिक्यां पूर्णिमायां प्रेतमुद्दिश्य संव्यधात् / वृषोत्सर्गं विधानेन तन्मण्याप्तधनेन च

Transliteration

sa kārtikyāṃ pūrṇimāyāṃ pretamuddiśya saṃvyadhāt / vṛṣotsargaṃ vidhānena tanmaṇyāptadhanena ca

Translation

Am Vollmondtag des Monats Kārttika vollzog er, dem Preta gewidmet, ordnungsgemäß das vṛṣotsarga—die rituelle Gabe, einen Stier freizulassen—nach vorgeschriebener Weise und mit ehrenhaft erworbenem Vermögen.

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• कार्तिक्याम्: in (the month of) Kārtika
• कार्तिक्याम्: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्तिकी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• पूर्णिमायाम्: on the full-moon day
• पूर्णिमायाम्: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूर्णिमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• प्रेतम्: the preta
• प्रेतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• उद्दिश्य: having intended/dedicated (for)
• उद्दिश्य: Sambandha (Purpose/prior action/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उद् + दिश् (धातु) → उद्दिश्य (क्त्वान्त/अव्ययकृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive)

• संव्यधात्: performed/arranged
• संव्यधात्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + वि + धा (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• वृषोत्सर्गम्: release/donation of a bull
• वृषोत्सर्गम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृष (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्सर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (वृषस्य उत्सर्गः)

• विधानेन: according to the prescribed rite
• विधानेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Sambandha (Qualifier/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; ‘that’ (referring to the bull)

• मणि: jewel
• मणि: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन (समासाङ्ग)

• आप्तधनेन: with the obtained wealth
• आप्तधनेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आप्त (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (आप्तं धनं येन)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

Speaker

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

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Kārttika Pūrṇimā

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual gift (vṛṣotsarga) performed by proper procedure and with dharmically obtained wealth yields tangible post-mortem benefit to the departed.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-yoga orientation: right means (śuddha-artha) and right method (vidhi) shape results; intention (uddeśya) directs merit.

Application: Perform prescribed post-death charities/rites on auspicious tithis; ensure offerings are sourced ethically; dedicate merit explicitly to the departed.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual site (goshala/riverbank/temple precinct)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: śrāddha-dāna sections praising go-dāna/vṛṣotsarga for preta uplift; Garuda Purana: Kārttika-māsa merit passages (where present in recensions)

Characters & Entities

• Pretas

FAQs

What is the importance of vṛṣotsarga in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents vṛṣotsarga (ritual gifting/release of a bull) as a prescribed act dedicated to a preta, implying it is a meritorious rite meant to support the departed and uphold dharma in post-death observances.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s post-death condition (preta state)?

By explicitly saying the act is performed “pretam uddiśya” (for the preta), the verse connects ritual dāna to aiding the departed during the vulnerable preta phase, emphasizing that correct procedure and intention matter.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform memorial rites with clear intention for the departed, follow authentic procedure/tradition, and prioritize offerings made from ethically earned resources—since dharmic means are highlighted as integral to the rite’s value.