Shloka 19

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

Devanagari script

तीर्थे पित्र्येक्षयाहे च विशेषेण प्रशस्यते / लोहितो यस्तु वर्णेन मुखे पुच्छे च पाण्डुरः

Transliteration

tīrthe pitryekṣayāhe ca viśeṣeṇa praśasyate / lohito yastu varṇena mukhe pucche ca pāṇḍuraḥ

Translation

Di tīrtha (tempat suci) dan pada hari yang ditetapkan untuk upacara bagi Pitṛ—terutama pada hari pemujaan leluhur—satu tanda/persembahan dipuji dengan khusus: yang berwarna kemerah-merahan, namun pucat pada bahagian muka dan ekor.

Word by Word

• तीर्थे: at a sacred ford/place
• तीर्थे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• पित्र्ये: ancestral (pertaining to Pitṛs)
• पित्र्ये: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पित्र्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; विशेषण (श्राद्धादि-संबन्धि)

• क्षयाहे: on the day of (lunar) waning/ksaya
• क्षयाहे: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षयाह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (क्षयस्य अहः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चय/coordination conjunction)

• विशेषेण: especially
• विशेषेण: Karana (Manner/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विशेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषण-प्रयोग (instrumental of manner)

• प्रशस्यते: is praised/commended
• प्रशस्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + शंस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive)

• लोहितः: red
• लोहितः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लोहित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• यः: who/which
• यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (विरोध/अवधारण particle)

• वर्णेन: by color
• वर्णेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• मुखे: on the face/mouth
• मुखे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• पुच्छे: on the tail
• पुच्छे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुच्छ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चय/coordination conjunction)

• पाण्डुरः: pale/whitish
• पाण्डुरः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाण्डुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

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

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Pitṛyajña day / appointed pitṛ observance; especially at tīrtha

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual appropriateness depends on deśa-kāla (tīrtha, pitṛ-day) and śubha-lakṣaṇa (auspicious characteristics) of the offering/animal/indicator.

Vedantic Theme: Karma performed with śraddhā and correctness purifies the mind; outer order supports inner recollection of dharma.

Application: When performing pitṛ rites at a tīrtha or on the appointed pitṛ day, choose the recommended auspiciously marked offering/animal/sign as per tradition.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: tirtha

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana śrāddha-vidhi passages: tīrtha-śrāddha praise; lakṣaṇa-based selection of dāna objects/animals (general internal continuity)

Characters & Entities

• Pitris
• Tirtha

FAQs

What is the importance of performing Pitṛ rites at a tīrtha according to the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights that acts connected with Pitṛ observances performed at a tīrtha are “especially praised,” implying heightened merit and suitability for ancestral satisfaction.

How does this verse relate to śrāddha and signs of auspiciousness?

It points to a specific praised characteristic—reddish overall but pale at the face and tail—functioning as an auspicious marker in the context of Pitṛ-related ritual observances.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When conducting śrāddha or Pitṛ rites (especially during Pitṛ-focused days), prioritize proper place (tīrtha when possible) and careful, rule-based selection of ritual items as guided by tradition.