Shloka 54

Babhruvāhana Meets a Preta: Vṛṣotsarga, Heirless Death, and the Signs of Preta-Affliction

Devanagari script

क्षुत्तृड्जन्यं महादुः खमनुभवामि पुनः पुनः / अकल्याणं हि प्रेतत्वं वृषोत्सर्गं विना कृतम्

Transliteration

kṣuttṛḍjanyaṃ mahāduḥ khamanubhavāmi punaḥ punaḥ / akalyāṇaṃ hi pretatvaṃ vṛṣotsargaṃ vinā kṛtam

Translation

ఆకలి, దాహం వల్ల పుట్టే మహాదుఃఖాన్ని నేను మళ్లీ మళ్లీ అనుభవిస్తున్నాను. వృషోత్సర్గం (వృషదానం/వృషవిమోచనం) లేకుండా కలిగిన ప్రేతత్వం నిజంగా అశుభకరం.

Word by Word

• क्षुत्-तृड्-जन्यम्: born of hunger and thirst
• क्षुत्-तृड्-जन्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षुत् (प्रातिपदिक) + तृड्/तृष् (प्रातिपदिक) + जन्य (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (क्षुत्तृड्भ्यां जन्यं = hunger-and-thirst-born)

• महादुःखम्: great sorrow
• महादुःखम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक) + दुःख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (महच्च तत् दुःखम्)

• अनुभवामि: I experience
• अनुभवामि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु√भू (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमानकाल), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• अकल्याणम्: inauspicious
• अकल्याणम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ- (उपसर्ग/निषेध) + कल्याण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Discourse particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle), हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थ (indeed/for)

• प्रेतत्वम्: the state of being a preta (ghost)
• प्रेतत्वम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेत (प्रातिपदिक) + त्व (तद्धित प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; भाववाचक (state/condition)

• वृषोत्सर्गम्: the release/gift of a bull
• वृषोत्सर्गम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृष (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्सर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (वृषस्य उत्सर्गः)

• विना: without
• विना: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विना (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपपद-पूर्वक अव्यय (preposition) — ‘without’; सामान्यतः तृतीया/पञ्चमी-संबन्धः

• कृतम्: done (performed)
• कृतम्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोगः (done/made)

Speaker

Preta (departed soul), as described within the Vishnu–Garuda dialogue

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Post-death ancillary rite; performed after antyeṣṭi within the śrāddha framework as prescribed by family tradition.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Unperformed post-death rites (especially vṛṣotsarga) prolong preta-suffering; ritual omission yields continued duḥkha.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala and saṃskāra as upāya within vyavahāra; suffering persists until proper dharmic acts are completed by survivors.

Application: Ensure prescribed antyeṣṭi and ancillary rites (including vṛṣotsarga where enjoined by tradition) are performed to prevent preta-avasthā and relieve hunger/thirst imagery of the departed.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana, Pretakalpa: preta-lakṣaṇa and preta-śānti sections (adjacent verses 2.9.55–58); Garuda Purana: śrāddha/antyeṣṭi discussions where preta is aided by offerings and rites

Characters & Entities

• Pretas
• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of vṛṣotsarga in the Garuda Purana?

This verse links vṛṣotsarga with reducing the inauspiciousness of the preta-condition, implying it is a supporting rite meant to aid the departed and mitigate post-death distress.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

It portrays the immediate post-death preta phase as marked by recurring torment—especially hunger and thirst—highlighting that prescribed rites by the living are considered spiritually relevant to the departed one’s condition.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It encourages timely, faithful performance of traditional post-death observances (as per one’s sampradāya and family custom) and motivates ethical living by remembering the Garuda Purana’s emphasis on consequences after death.