Shloka 47

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

Devanagari script

यः कश्चित्क्रियते धर्मस्तत्फलं चाक्षयं भवेत् / तीर्थयात्राव्रतादीनां श्राद्धं संवत्सरस्य हि

Transliteration

yaḥ kaścitkriyate dharmastatphalaṃ cākṣayaṃ bhavet / tīrthayātrāvratādīnāṃ śrāddhaṃ saṃvatsarasya hi

Translation

ഏതൊരു ധർമ്മകർമ്മം ചെയ്താലും അതിന്റെ ഫലം അക്ഷയമാകുന്നു. വാസ്തവത്തിൽ, സംവത്സര ശ്രാദ്ധം തീർത്ഥയാത്ര, വ്രതം മുതലായവയുടെ ഫലമായി കണക്കാക്കപ്പെടുന്നു.

Word by Word

• यः: whatever/which (act)
• यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सम्बन्धक-सर्वनाम

• कश्चित्: any (some)
• कश्चित्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; अनिश्चित-सर्वनाम (indefinite pronoun)

• क्रियते: is done
• क्रियते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), कर्मणि-प्रयोग (Passive), आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• धर्मः: a righteous act/dharma
• धर्मः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Sambandha (Correlative/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणरूपेण (that)

• फलम्: fruit/result
• फलम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (1st/2nd), एकवचन

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

• अक्षयम्: imperishable
• अक्षयम्: Karta (Subject-complement/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अक्षय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (imperishable)

• भवेत्: would be/becomes
• भवेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• तीर्थयात्राव्रतादीनाम्: of pilgrimages, vows, and the like
• तीर्थयात्राव्रतादीनाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ + यात्रा + व्रत + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (समाहार-द्वन्द्व), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; ‘आदि’ समाहार-सूचक

• श्राद्धम्: śrāddha rite
• श्राद्धम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• संवत्सरस्य: of a year
• संवत्सरस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संवत्सर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle: indeed/for)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Annual (saṃvatsara) śrāddha; typically on tithi connected to the departed (abda) or prescribed parvan days depending on tradition

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dharma performed yields akṣaya-phala; annual śrāddha is extolled as equivalent in fruit to tīrtha-yātrā, vrata, and allied observances.

Vedantic Theme: Akṣaya-puṇya through prescribed duty; honoring pitṛs as part of ṛṇa-traya (debts) and dharmic order.

Application: Do not neglect annual śrāddha; treat it as a high-impact dharmic act alongside pilgrimages and vows, especially when travel or austerities are impractical.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual site (home altar/śrāddha place)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: extensive śrāddha-mahātmyas—pitṛ-tarpaṇa, piṇḍa-dāna, and akṣaya results; Garuda Purana: equivalence statements comparing śrāddha merit to other tapas/vratas

Characters & Entities

• Pitris

FAQs

What is the importance of annual Śrāddha in Garuda Purana?

This verse states that annual śrāddha yields imperishable merit and is regarded as equivalent in fruit to pilgrimages, vows, and related religious disciplines.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

In the Preta Kanda context, śrāddha is emphasized as a sustaining dharmic act connected to the departed and the Pitṛs; by calling its fruit ‘akṣaya,’ the text frames it as durable spiritual support within the post-death framework.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain regular ancestral observances (especially annual śrāddha) with sincerity, treating them as a core dharma that builds lasting merit—alongside, not merely replaced by, pilgrimages or personal vows.