Shloka 30
Praise of Vṛṣotsarga (Bull-release), Worthy Dāna, and the Procedure for Kṣayāha & Ūrdhva-daihika Rites
उदकेचैव गन्तव्यं जलं तत्र प्रदापयेत् / यदिष्टं जीवतस्त्वासीत्तच्च दद्यात्स्वशक्तितः
udakecaiva gantavyaṃ jalaṃ tatra pradāpayet / yadiṣṭaṃ jīvatastvāsīttacca dadyātsvaśaktitaḥ
ജലത്തിനരികെ ചെന്നു അവിടെ ജലം അർപ്പിക്കണം. ജീവിച്ചിരിക്കുമ്പോൾ മരിച്ചവന് പ്രിയമായിരുന്നതും തൻ്റെ ശേഷിയനുസരിച്ച് ദാനമായി നൽകണം.
Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda)
Beneficiary: Pitr
Concept: Śrāddha is to be done through udaka-offering and through dāna of what the deceased valued, proportionate to one’s śakti (capacity).
Vedantic Theme: Kartavya-karma with niṣkāma-bhāva; honoring saṃskāra and ṛṇa (pitṛ-ṛṇa) while maintaining moderation and truthfulness about one’s means.
Application: Perform water-offering at a clean waterbody/ghāṭa; give charity aligned with the departed’s cherished items/causes (food, clothing, lamp, cow-related gifts, education, etc.) without debt or display.
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: waterside/ghāṭa
Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa/Śrāddha sections on udaka-tarpaṇa and dāna according to capacity; Garuda Purana instructions on offering what is प्रिय (dear) to the departed as dāna
FAQs
This verse instructs that going to a water-source and offering water is a required act, understood as a supportive rite for the departed and a key component of post-death observances.
It says to give, as charity, items the person valued while alive—done within the family’s means—linking remembrance with dharmic giving rather than excessive display.
Perform simple water-offering with sincerity and give a modest, meaningful donation in the deceased’s memory (food, essentials, or a valued cause), keeping it within your capacity.