Shloka 46

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

Devanagari script

विरक्त इन्द्रियार्थेभ्यः स मे पूज्यो न संशयः / तीर्थयात्रापरो नित्यं वृषोत्सर्गविशेषवित्

Transliteration

virakta indriyārthebhyaḥ sa me pūjyo na saṃśayaḥ / tīrthayātrāparo nityaṃ vṛṣotsargaviśeṣavit

Translation

Sesiapa yang tidak terikat pada objek-objek pancaindera, dialah yang layak aku sembah—tiada keraguan. Dan yang sentiasa tekun berziarah ke tīrtha suci serta mengetahui aturan dan perincian upacara pelepasan lembu jantan (vṛṣotsarga), dialah benar-benar mulia.

Word by Word

• विरक्तः: detached/dispassionate
• विरक्तः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + रक्त (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; रक्त = √रञ्ज् (धातु) क्त-प्रत्यय, उपसर्ग: वि-; विशेषण (detached)

• इन्द्रियार्थेभ्यः: from sense-objects
• इन्द्रियार्थेभ्यः: Apadana (Source/Separation/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्रिय + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन, सर्वनाम

• मे: my/to me
• मे: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular), सर्वनाम

• पूज्यः: worthy of worship
• पूज्यः: Pratijna (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूज्य (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; √पूज् (धातु) यत्/ण्यत्-प्रत्यय (gerundive: to be worshipped), विशेषण

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निषेध-निपात (negation particle)

• संशयः: doubt
• संशयः: Pratishedha (Negated predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तीर्थयात्रापरः: intent on pilgrimage
• तीर्थयात्रापरः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तीर्थयात्रा + पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• नित्यम्: always/constantly
• नित्यम्: Kriya-visheshana (Temporal/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाववत् क्रियाविशेषण-प्रयोग (adverbial accusative), नपुंसक-द्वितीया एकवचन

• वृषोत्सर्गविशेषवित्: knower of the special rules of bull-release (vṛṣotsarga)
• वृषोत्सर्गविशेषवित्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृषोत्सर्ग + विशेष + विद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विद्-प्रत्ययान्त (knower), समासान्त-पद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Performed as a dharmic rite; often associated in later practice with śrāddha/ancestral merit contexts, but here stated generally as vṛṣotsarga-vidhi.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Detachment from sense-objects, regular tīrtha-yātrā, and correct performance/knowledge of vṛṣotsarga mark a venerable person.

Vedantic Theme: Vairāgya as inner purification supporting bhakti/jñāna; karma performed with śuddhi and niyama.

Application: Practice sensory moderation; undertake periodic pilgrimages or local sacred visits; learn and perform rites responsibly through competent guidance.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: sacred ford network

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: sections praising vairagya and tīrtha-mahātmyas; Garuda Purana: śrāddha-related ancillary rites including vṛṣotsarga in some recensions

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Tirthas

FAQs

What is the importance of detachment (vairāgya) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that freedom from attachment to sense-objects is itself a mark of a truly venerable person, implying inner renunciation is a primary spiritual qualification even alongside ritual merit.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana death rituals and post-death benefit?

By praising one who knows vṛṣotsarga and regularly undertakes tīrtha-yātrā, the verse links inner discipline with recognized dharmic rites that are traditionally understood to generate merit supporting a favorable post-death course.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate restraint from sense-driven habits, undertake sincere visits to sacred places when possible, and if performing traditional rites, learn the procedure from competent guidance so actions are done with clarity and dharmic intent.