Shloka 10

On Untimely Death and the Explanation of Pleasure and Pain, Gain and Loss

Vṛṣotsarga and Preta-Uddhāra Rites

Devanagari script

एकवर्णं वृषञ्चैव सकृद्वत्सतरीं खग / स्नापयित्वा ततः कुर्यात्सर्वालङ्कारभूषितम्

Transliteration

ekavarṇaṃ vṛṣañcaiva sakṛdvatsatarīṃ khaga / snāpayitvā tataḥ kuryātsarvālaṅkārabhūṣitam

Translation

ഹേ ഖഗ (ഗരുഡാ)! ഏകവർണ്ണ വൃഷഭത്തെയും വൈതരണി കടത്തുന്ന ഗാവിനെയും ഒരിക്കൽ സ്നാനിപ്പിച്ച്, തുടർന്ന് അവരെല്ലാം സർവ്വ അലങ്കാരങ്ങളാൽ ഭൂഷിതരാക്കണം.

Word by Word

• ekavarṇam: One-colored/Single-colored
• ekavarṇam: Visheshana (Adjective to vṛṣam)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ekavarṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• vṛṣam: Bull
• vṛṣam: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• ca: And
• ca: Sambandha
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• eva: Indeed/Only
• eva: Avadharana (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle

• sakṛt: Once/At the same time
• sakṛt: Kriya-visheshana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sakṛt (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb

• vatsatarīm: Heifer/Young cow
• vatsatarīm: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vatsatarī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• khaga: O Bird (Garuda)
• khaga: Sambodhana (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: khaga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (Sambodhana), Singular

• snāpayitvā: Having bathed/washed
• snāpayitvā: Purvakalika Kriya (Prior Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: snā (धातु) + ṇic (णिच्)
• Form: Ktva Pratyaya (Gerund/Absolutive)

• tataḥ: Then
• tataḥ: Kriya-visheshana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb

• kuryāt: Should do/make
• kuryāt: Kriya
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Vidhilin (Optative), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular

• sarvālaṅkārabhūṣitam: Adorned with all ornaments
• sarvālaṅkārabhūṣitam: Visheshana (Adjective to vṛṣam/vatsatarīm)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarvālaṅkārabhūṣita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Post-death/antyeṣṭi-associated dāna sequence (contextual)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Compassionate ritual gifting and honoring of sacred animals functions as supportive merit (puṇya) for safe passage in the afterlife.

Vedantic Theme: Karma and dāna as upāya for alleviating post-mortem suffering; ritual symbols externalize inner surrender and care.

Application: Practice generosity and compassionate stewardship; in bereavement, perform meaningful acts of giving and remembrance that embody care.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: mythic river / liminal crossing

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa themes: Vaitaraṇī crossing and dāna as aid (elsewhere in the Purana); Adjacent 2.41 ritual instructions indicating funerary context

Characters & Entities

• Garuda (Khaga)
• Vaitarani (implied by vatsatarī)

FAQs

What is the importance of the Vaitaraṇī-tāriṇī cow (vatsatarī) in Garuda Purana?

This verse treats the vatsatarī as a ritual aid connected with ‘crossing’ the Vaitaraṇī; bathing and adorning it signifies reverent preparation of the dāna meant to support the departed on the difficult after-death passage.

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

By referencing the ‘crossing’ cow, the verse aligns post-death travel with obstacles like the Vaitaraṇī; prescribed rites and gifts are presented as supports that ease the preta’s transition on the way to Yama’s domain.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform śrāddha-related giving with purity and respect—offer charity thoughtfully (not casually), and treat ritual or charitable acts as disciplined dharma meant to reduce suffering and cultivate compassion.