Shloka 26

Praise of Vṛṣotsarga (Bull-release), Worthy Dāna, and the Procedure for Kṣayāha & Ūrdhva-daihika Rites

Devanagari script

इमं मन्त्रं समुच्चार्य उत्तराभिमुखः स्थितः / धर्म त्वं वृषरूपेण ब्रह्मणा निर्मितः पुरा

Transliteration

imaṃ mantraṃ samuccārya uttarābhimukhaḥ sthitaḥ / dharma tvaṃ vṛṣarūpeṇa brahmaṇā nirmitaḥ purā

Translation

ಉತ್ತರಾಭಿಮುಖವಾಗಿ ನಿಂತು ಈ ಮಂತ್ರವನ್ನು ಸ್ಪಷ್ಟವಾಗಿ ಉಚ್ಚರಿಸಬೇಕು— “ಹೇ ಧರ್ಮಾ! ನೀನು ಪೂರ್ವದಲ್ಲಿ ಬ್ರಹ್ಮನಿಂದ ವೃಷಭರೂಪದಲ್ಲಿ ನಿರ್ಮಿತನಾಗಿದ್ದೆ.”

Word by Word

• इमम्: this
• इमम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनामविशेषण

• मन्त्रम्: mantra
• मन्त्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• समुच्चार्य: having recited aloud
• समुच्चार्य: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्+उद्+चर् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव (indeclinable); ‘having recited/uttered’

• उत्तर-अभिमुखः: facing north
• उत्तर-अभिमुखः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक) + अभिमुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (दिशा-निर्देशः)

• स्थितः: standing
• स्थितः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘standing/remaining’

• धर्म: O Dharma
• धर्म: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; मध्यमपुरुषार्थे सर्वनाम

• वृष-रूपेण: in the form of a bull
• वृष-रूपेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृष (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (‘bull’ + ‘form’)

• ब्रह्मणा: by Brahmā
• ब्रह्मणा: Karta (Agent in passive/कर्तृ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• निर्मितः: created
• निर्मितः: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: निर्मा (निर्+मा, धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगार्थः

• पुरा: formerly, long ago
• पुरा: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (Time adjunct/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (adverb of time)

Speaker

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

Shraddha Ritual

Timing: Mantra segment preceding/within vṛṣotsarga-related śrāddha procedure.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dharma is a cosmic principle, personified as a bull, established by Brahmā; ritual aligns the practitioner with that sustaining order.

Vedantic Theme: Ṛta/Dharma as the order within which karma operates; alignment with dharma supports inner purity and spiritual progress.

Application: Before major rites or ethical decisions, consciously ‘name’ the principle you serve (dharma) and orient mind/body (direction, posture) to steadiness and truthfulness.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual space (yajñaśālā)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.14.27 (prayer for uplift from bhava-sāgara by the rite’s power); Garuda Purana 2.14.28 (vṛṣotsarga rite explicitly follows)

Characters & Entities

• Dharma
• Brahma

FAQs

What is the importance of invoking Dharma in this Garuda Purana verse?

The verse frames Dharma as a cosmic principle established by Brahmā, invoked through mantra to align ritual action with righteousness and proper order.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey in the Preta Kanda context?

In the Preta Kanda, ritual correctness supports the departed being’s orderly passage; invoking Dharma emphasizes that rites should be performed under the authority of righteousness, not merely as custom.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform rites and daily duties with clarity, discipline, and ethical intent—treating “Dharma” as the guiding standard behind any religious or family observance.