Shloka 56

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

Devanagari script

उमामहेश्वरं चैकं परिधाप्य प्रिदापयेत् / अतसीपुष्पसङ्काशं पीतवाससमच्युतम्

Transliteration

umāmaheśvaraṃ caikaṃ paridhāpya pridāpayet / atasīpuṣpasaṅkāśaṃ pītavāsasamacyutam

Translation

ഉമാ-മഹേശ്വരൻ എന്ന ഏക ദേവനെ വിധിപൂർവ്വം വസ്ത്രം ധരിപ്പിച്ച് തൃപ്തിപ്പെടുത്തണം. പിന്നെ അതസി പുഷ്പംപോലെ ദീപ്തനായ, പീതവസ്ത്രധാരിയായ അച്യുതനെ (വിഷ്ണുവിനെ)യും പ്രസന്നമാക്കണം।

Word by Word

• उमामहेश्वरम्: Umā and Maheśvara (as a single pair)
• उमामहेश्वरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उमा (प्रातिपदिक) + महेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समासः (उमा च महेश्वरश्च); नपुंसकलिङ्ग (समाहार-द्वन्द्व), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

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

• एकम्: one (single)
• एकम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (उमामहेश्वरम्)

• परिधाप्य: having clothed (them)
• परिधाप्य: Purvakala (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-धा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund); ‘परिधाप्य’ = having clothed/caused to be clothed

• प्रिदापयेत्: should please/satisfy
• प्रिदापयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्री (धातु) + णिच् (causative)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; णिजन्त-धातु ‘प्रीदापयति’ = to cause to please/satisfy

• अतसीपुष्पसङ्काशम्: resembling flax-flowers
• अतसीपुष्पसङ्काशम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अतसी (प्रातिपदिक) + पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक) + सङ्काश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषः (अतसीपुष्पस्य सङ्काशः); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (उमामहेश्वरम्)

• पीतवाससम्: wearing yellow garments
• पीतवाससम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पीत (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + वासस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-प्रायः (पीतं वासः यस्य/पीतवासाः); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• अच्युतम्: Acyuta (Viṣṇu)
• अच्युतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अच्युत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विष्णोः नाम

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Honor Śiva (with Umā) through proper upacāras, and also worship Viṣṇu (Acyuta) whose auspicious form is praised; devotion can be inclusive and complementary.

Vedantic Theme: Ekatva-bhāva in devotion: the Supreme approached through multiple revered forms; harmony of īśvara-bhakti.

Application: In personal practice, cultivate respect across traditions; perform worship with cleanliness, clothing/offerings, and heartfelt satisfaction (prīṇana) of the deity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana passages praising Viṣṇu-nāma and ūrdhva-daihika rites that culminate in devotion to Keśava

Characters & Entities

• Uma
• Maheshvara (Shiva)
• Acyuta (Vishnu)

FAQs

What is the importance of pleasing Shiva and Vishnu in Garuda Purana death rituals?

This verse presents propitiation of Umā–Maheśvara and Acyuta as part of the rite: honoring major deities is treated as a supportive act that sanctifies the śrāddha process and benefits the departed through dharmic completion of the ritual.

How does this verse relate to the path of the soul after death in the Garuda Purana?

In the Preta Kanda context, correct ritual observance (including deity-pleasing acts like clothing and worship) is linked with easing the preta’s transition and securing auspicious support for the onward journey described elsewhere in the dialogue.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform śrāddha or memorial rites with reverence and completeness—include respectful worship of Śiva and Viṣṇu, offer appropriate symbolic items (like clean clothing), and keep the intention of dharma and gratitude toward ancestors.