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

Di sini, hendaklah seseorang mempersembahkan emas kepada Vibhāvasu (Agni) dengan enam bait Ṛk yang bermula “iha ratī…”, khususnya pada bulan Kārtika, Māgha dan Vaiśākha, serta pada hari saṅkrānti dan pada persimpangan perayaan suci.

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.