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Shloka 134

Vṛṣotsarga (Bull-Release Gift): Procedure, Merit, and Narratives on Dharma, Karma, and Liberation

Devanagari script

स कालनगरं हित्वा गतो दूरतरं पथि / श्राद्धदेवपुरं कुत्रेत्येवं दूतानपृच्छत

Transliteration

sa kālanagaraṃ hitvā gato dūrataraṃ pathi / śrāddhadevapuraṃ kutretyevaṃ dūtānapṛcchata

Translation

കാലനഗരം വിട്ട് അവൻ വഴിയിൽ കൂടുതൽ ദൂരത്തേക്ക് പോയി. പിന്നെ ദൂതന്മാരോട്—“ശ്രാദ്ധം സ്വീകരിക്കുന്ന ദേവന്മാരുടെ പുരം എവിടെയാണ്?” എന്നു ചോദിച്ചു.

Word by Word
सhe
स:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (सर्वनाम)
कालनगरंthe city of Time (Kālanagara)
कालनगरं:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootकाल (प्रातिपदिक) + नगर (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘कालस्य नगरम्’
हित्वाhaving left
हित्वा:
Kriya (Gerundial action/पूर्वक्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootहा (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
Formक्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वक्रिया
गतःwent
गतः:
Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootगम् (धातु) + क्त (गत)
Formक्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन
दूरतरंfarther / more distant
दूरतरं:
Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootदूर (प्रातिपदिक) + तर (तुलनाप्रत्यय)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (अध्वानं/मार्गं implied)
पथिon the path
पथि:
Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootपथिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन
श्राद्धदेवपुरंthe city of the Śrāddha-devas (ancestors’ realm)
श्राद्धदेवपुरं:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootश्राद्धदेव (प्रातिपदिक) + पुर (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘श्राद्धदेवानां पुरम्’ (पितृलोक/श्राद्धदेवपुर)
कुत्रwhere?
कुत्र:
Prashna (Interrogative)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootकुत्र (अव्यय)
Formप्रश्नाव्यय (interrogative adverb)
इतिthus / ‘…’
इति:
Vacana-marker (Quotation)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइति (अव्यय)
Formउद्धरण/वाक्यसमाप्त्यर्थक अव्यय (quotative particle)
एवंin this way
एवं:
Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएवं (अव्यय)
Formरीत्यर्थक अव्यय (adverb of manner)
दूतान्messengers
दूतान्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootदूत (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन
अपृच्छतasked
अपृच्छत:
Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootप्रच्छ् (धातु)
Formलङ्-लकार (imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद
Speaker

Narrator within Lord Vishnu’s discourse to Garuda (describing the preta’s journey and dialogue with Yama’s messengers)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śrāddha has a real post-mortem correlate; the departed recognizes and seeks the realm where offerings are received.

Vedantic Theme: Interdependence of laukika rites and subtle journey; dharma as sustaining order across worlds.

Application: Perform śrāddha with faith and correctness; remember that rites are meant to aid the departed’s passage and well-being.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: city; post-mortem road

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Śrāddha-kalpa sections: Śrāddha-deva/pitṛ-loka descriptions; benefits of piṇḍa and water offerings (thematic linkage)

Characters & Entities
K
Kāla
Y
Yama-dūtas
Ś
Śrāddha-devas

FAQs

This verse points to a distinct realm associated with śrāddha-receiving deities, implying that funeral rites have an actual post-death relevance and are believed to support the departed on the after-death route.

It depicts the departed (preta) moving onward beyond Kālanagara and interacting with Yama’s messengers, showing the journey as structured into stages and locations, not as an undefined passage.

Perform śrāddha and related rites with sincerity and correctness, treating them as duties of remembrance and support for ancestors, while also living ethically to reduce fear and hardship on the post-death path.

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