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Shloka 12

Vṛṣotsarga as Prerequisite for Śrāddha: Eligibility, Timing, Purification, and the Urgency of Dharma

Devanagari script

दत्त्वा दानान्यशेषाणि सुतीर्थे म्रियते यदि / ब्रह्मचारी शुचिर्भूत्वा न स यातीह दुर्गतिम्

Transliteration

dattvā dānānyaśeṣāṇi sutīrthe mriyate yadi / brahmacārī śucirbhūtvā na sa yātīha durgatim

Translation

Se alguém, tendo dado toda espécie de caridade sem deixar resto, morre num tīrtha supremamente sagrado, então—tornando-se brahmacārī, autocontrolado e puro—não vai a um estado funesto no além.

Word by Word
दत्त्वाhaving given
दत्त्वा:
Purvakala (Prior action)
TypeVerb
Root√दा (धातु)
Formक्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त (absolutive/क्त्वान्त), ‘having given’
दानानिgifts, donations
दानानि:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootदान (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन
अशेषाणिall, without remainder
अशेषाणि:
Visheshana (Qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootअशेष (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying दानानि)
सु-तीर्थेat a holy ford/place of pilgrimage
सु-तीर्थे:
Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootसु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (‘सुन्दरं/पुण्यं तीर्थम्’)
म्रियतेdies
म्रियते:
Kriya (Main verb)
TypeVerb
Root√मृ (धातु)
Formलट् (Present/लट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, आत्मनेपद
यदिif
यदि:
Hetu/Condition (Condition marker)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootयदि (अव्यय)
Formशर्त-अव्यय (conditional particle)
ब्रह्मचारीa celibate student (brahmacārin)
ब्रह्मचारी:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootब्रह्मचारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन
शुचिःpure
शुचिः:
Visheshana (Qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootशुचि (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying ब्रह्मचारी)
भूत्वाhaving become
भूत्वा:
Purvakala (Prior action)
TypeVerb
Root√भू (धातु)
Formक्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त (absolutive/क्त्वान्त), ‘having become’
नnot
न:
Nishedha (Negation)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन (अव्यय)
Formनिषेध-अव्यय (negation)
सःhe
सः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन
यातिgoes
याति:
Kriya (Main verb)
TypeVerb
Root√या (धातु)
Formलट् (Present/लट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद
इहhere
इह:
Desha (Locative sense)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइह (अव्यय)
Formदेश-अव्यय (adverb of place)
दुर्गतिम्bad state, misfortune
दुर्गतिम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootदुर्गति (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन
Speaker

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

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Svarga

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Puṇya from comprehensive dāna and tīrtha-maraṇa, coupled with self-restraint (brahmacarya/śauca), prevents durgati.

Vedantic Theme: Saṃskāra-śuddhi: accumulated sattva through charity and restraint supports a favorable gati; karma as preparatory to higher realization.

Application: Cultivate generosity and disciplined living; undertake pilgrimages with ethical conduct; prepare for death with purity of mind and restraint rather than mere ritualism.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: tirtha

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.13.13 (renunciant discipline leading to Brahman); Garuda Purana teachings on dāna and tīrtha-mahātmyas (general)

Characters & Entities
V
Vishnu
G
Garuda
T
Tirtha

FAQs

This verse states that death at an excellent sacred place, when supported by complete charity and purity, helps prevent a fall into durgati (an evil post-death destination).

It links one’s post-death destination to accumulated merit: generous giving, self-restraint (brahmacarya), and purity (śauca) shape a favorable course rather than a painful or degraded state.

Practice regular charity, cultivate self-control and cleanliness, and approach pilgrimages and end-of-life rites with sincerity—treating moral discipline as the foundation of auspicious outcomes.

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