Shloka 43

Āśauca, Daśāha Piṇḍa-Rites, Vṛṣotsarga, Sāpiṇḍīkaraṇa, and the Yama-mārga

Path to Yama

Devanagari script

मृतादनन्तरं तस्य ध्रुवं कार्यो वृषोत्सवः / चतुर्वत्सतरीयुक्तो यस्योत्सृज्येत वा वृषः

Transliteration

mṛtādanantaraṃ tasya dhruvaṃ kāryo vṛṣotsavaḥ / caturvatsatarīyukto yasyotsṛjyeta vā vṛṣaḥ

Translation

Immediately after a person’s death, the rite known as the “bull-festival” (vṛṣotsava) should certainly be performed; a bull, endowed with four years of age, should be released in the deceased’s name.

Word by Word

• मृतात्: from the dead (person)
• मृतात्: अपादान (Source/Ablative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृत (कृदन्त; √मृ धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (contextual), पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकृत्-प्रत्यय (क्त) ‘मृत’ = dead person

• अनन्तरम्: immediately after
• अनन्तरम्: कालाधिकरण (Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-प्रयोग/क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial accusative): ‘immediately after’

• तस्य: of him/of that (person)
• तस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• ध्रुवम्: certainly
• ध्रुवम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ध्रुव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-रूपेण नपुंसक-एकवचन (adverbial accusative): ‘certainly’

• कार्यः: to be done, should be performed
• कार्यः: विधेय (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कार्य (कृदन्त; √कृ धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण; भाव्य/अनिवार्य-अर्थ (gerundive/तव्यत्-भाव)

• वृषोत्सवः: the bull-rite/festival (bull release ceremony)
• वृषोत्सवः: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृष + उत्सव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वृषस्य उत्सवः)

• चतुर्: four
• चतुर्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत्-पूर्वपद (numeral stem) समासे; ‘four’

• वत्सतरी: with a yearling heifer/cow
• वत्सतरी: सह/साधन (Accompaniment/Instrumental)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वत्सतरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; ‘one-year-old heifer/cow’ (contextual)

• युक्तः: accompanied/associated
• युक्तः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युक्त (कृदन्त; √युज् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्यय; ‘endowed/associated’

• यस्य: whose
• यस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्धे ‘whose’

• उत्सृज्येत: may be released/let loose
• उत्सृज्येत: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उत् + √सृज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोगः सम्भाव्यः (may be released/let loose)

• वा: or
• वा: विकल्प (Alternative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-निपातः

• वृषः: bull
• वृषः: कर्ता (Subject of utsṛjyeta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

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

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Immediately after death (mṛtād anantaram).

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Timely performance of vṛṣotsava/vṛṣotsarga immediately after death, with a properly aged bull (four years), is obligatory and efficacious.

Vedantic Theme: Adhikāra and niyata-karma: prescribed action at the proper time (kāla) yields specific unseen results (adṛṣṭa) supporting the departed.

Application: Arrange for a suitable bull (catuḥ-vatsara) in advance where possible; coordinate with priest/community so the rite is not postponed.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana, Pretakalpa 2.5.44-46 (eleventh-day linkage; preta-avoidance; substitute bull); Garuda Purana sections on ekādaśāha rites and preta-śānti

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Preta (the deceased)

FAQs

What is the importance of vṛṣotsava in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states it should be done immediately after death and links it to a prescribed dharmic observance—releasing a properly aged bull in the deceased’s name as part of post-death rites.

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

In the Preta Kanda context, such rites are presented as supportive observances performed by the living for the deceased during the vulnerable immediate post-death phase, aligning the transition with dharma.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It emphasizes timely, tradition-guided funeral observances; when literal performance is not feasible, families often consult qualified priests to follow sanctioned equivalents consistent with dharma and local practice.