Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 18

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

Devanagari script

इह रतीति षडृग्भिर्हेमं कुर्याद्विभावसोः / कार्तिक्यां माघवैशाख्यां संक्रमे पातपर्वसु

Transliteration

iha ratīti ṣaḍṛgbhirhemaṃ kuryādvibhāvasoḥ / kārtikyāṃ māghavaiśākhyāṃ saṃkrame pātaparvasu

Translation

येथे ‘इह रती…’ या आरंभाच्या सहा ऋक्-मंत्रांनी विभावसु (अग्नी) यास सुवर्णदान करावे—विशेषतः कार्तिक, माघ, वैशाखमध्ये तसेच संक्रांतीदिनी व पातपर्वांच्या पवित्र संधिकाळी।

Word by Word

• इह: here
• इह: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (स्थानवाचक-अव्यय/locative adverb)

• रति: Rati (name)
• रति: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• इति: thus (so called)
• इति: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (उद्धरण/quotative particle)

• षडृग्भिः: with six ṛk-verses
• षडृग्भिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षट् (प्रातिपदिक) + ऋच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (ऋच्), तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; द्विगु-समास (षड्+ऋचः)

• हेमम्: gold
• हेमम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हेम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• कुर्यात्: should make/do
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• विभावसोः: of the two (fires) Vibhāvasu
• विभावसोः: Sambandha (Possession/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभावसु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), द्विवचन

• कार्तिक्याम्: in Kārtikī (month/season)
• कार्तिक्याम्: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्तिकी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• माघवैशाख्याम्: in Māgha and Vaiśākha
• माघवैशाख्याम्: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माघ (प्रातिपदिक) + वैशाख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (द्वन्द्व-समास; द्वौ मासौ), सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (समाहार/collective locative)

• संक्रमे: at the solar transition (saṅkrānti)
• संक्रमे: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संक्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• पातपर्वसु: on the falling/inauspicious festival-days
• पातपर्वसु: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पात (प्रातिपदिक) + पर्वन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (पर्वन्), सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पातस्य पर्वाणि)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Kārtika/Māgha/Vaiśākha; saṅkrānti; parva-junctures

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Kāla-viśeṣa and mantra-vidhi amplify dāna/homa offerings; Agni as carrier of oblations and purifier.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara-ārādhana through karma-yoga (niyata-karma with śraddhā) leading to citta-śuddhi.

Application: Perform prescribed Agni-offering/dāna with the stated Ṛk-mantras; prioritize saṅkrānti and major parva days, and the months named, for enhanced ritual efficacy.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual site

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Preta/Śrāddha sections): kāla-viśeṣa for śrāddha and dāna; Agni as witness in rites (general motif)

Characters & Entities

• Agni (Vibhavasu)

FAQs

What is the importance of offering gold to Agni (Vibhāvasu) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames hema-dāna to Agni as a meritorious, mantra-supported act, especially suited to auspicious months and calendrical transitions, strengthening ritual efficacy and dharmic merit connected with preta-related rites.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana after-death (preta) practices?

In the Preta Kanda context, prescribed dānas and timed observances are taught as supports for post-death rites; this verse specifies a particular gold-offering to Agni with a defined set of Ṛk-verses and recommended times.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If performing śrāddha or remembrance rites, one may align charity (especially fire-related/Agni-associated offerings or donations) with saṅkrānti or major sacred months, emphasizing sincere, dharmic giving rather than mere display.