Shloka 71

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

Devanagari script

अवाप गिरिजा देवी तपसा यत्र शङ्करम् / वारुणं सूर्यतीर्थञ्च हंसतीर्थं महोदयम्

Transliteration

avāpa girijā devī tapasā yatra śaṅkaram / vāruṇaṃ sūryatīrthañca haṃsatīrthaṃ mahodayam

Translation

Di sana Dewi Girijā memperoleh Śaṅkara melalui tapa (tapas); dan di sana juga ada tirtha-tirtha suci: Vāruṇa-tīrtha, Sūrya-tīrtha, serta Haṁsa-tīrtha yang amat membawa tuah.

Word by Word

• अवाप: obtained/attained
• अवाप: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √आप् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• गिरिजा: Girijā (daughter of the mountain; Pārvatī)
• गिरिजा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिरि + जा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; देवी-नाम (पार्वती)

• देवी: the goddess
• देवी: Karta (Apposition/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; अप्पोजिशन (गिरिजा-समानााधिकरण)

• तपसा: by austerity
• तपसा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सम्बन्ध/देशवाचक (relative adverb: where)

• शङ्करम्: Śaṅkara (Śiva)
• शङ्करम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• वारुणम्: Vāruṇa (Varuṇa’s sacred place)
• वारुणम्: Karma/Listing item (नामनिर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वारुण (प्रातिपदिक; वरुण-सम्बन्धि)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन; तीर्थ-नाम

• सूर्यतीर्थम्: Sūryatīrtha
• सूर्यतीर्थम्: Karma/Listing item (नामनिर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूर्य + तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन; तीर्थ-नाम

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• हंसतीर्थम्: Haṃsatīrtha
• हंसतीर्थम्: Karma/Listing item (नामनिर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हंस + तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन; तीर्थ-नाम

• महोदयम्: Mahodaya (great rising/prosperity; name)
• महोदयम्: Karma/Listing item (नामनिर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + उदय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन; नाम

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Tapas and purity lead to divine attainment; tīrtha-snānā is a catalyst for inner refinement; haṃsa symbolism implies viveka (discrimination) as a path to liberation.

Vedantic Theme: Sādhana-catuṣṭaya support: tapas and śama-dama culminating in viveka (haṃsa) and grace (anugraha).

Application: Adopt a modest tapas regimen (fasting, japa, vrata) paired with ethical living; use tīrtha visits as occasions for self-discipline and discernment practices (viveka-vicāra).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: tapas-sthāna, tīrtha complex

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.6 (tīrtha-māhātmya narrative markers: tapas-sthāna + tīrtha list)

Characters & Entities

• Girija (Parvati)
• Shankara (Shiva)
• Varuna
• Surya
• Tirthas

FAQs

What is the importance of sacred tirthas in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents tirthas as spiritually potent places where austerity and devotion bear fruit and where bathing/visiting is associated with the rise of merit (puṇya), supporting purification and auspicious outcomes.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana context?

While not describing the soul’s journey directly, it supports the broader Preta-kāṇḍa framework: merit gained through tapas and tirtha-related acts is treated as a force that improves post-death conditions and aids ritual objectives for the departed.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate disciplined tapas (self-restraint, prayer, ethical living) and, when possible, undertake pilgrimage with reverence—treating sacred visits as opportunities for inner purification and dedication of merit for family and ancestors.