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Shloka 20

श्राद्ध-योग्य द्रव्य, निषेध, तथा गयाश्राद्ध-माहात्म्य (Śrāddha Materials, Prohibitions, and the Glory of Gayā)

गौरीं वाप्य् उद्वहेत् कन्यां नीलं वा वृषम् उत्सृजेत् यजेत वाश्वमेधेन विधिवद् दक्षिणावता

gaurīṃ vāpy udvahet kanyāṃ nīlaṃ vā vṛṣam utsṛjet yajeta vāśvamedhena vidhivad dakṣiṇāvatā

అతడు ప్రాయశ్చిత్తంగా విధివిధానాలతో గౌరవర్ణ కన్యను వివాహం చేసుకోవచ్చు; లేదా నీలవర్ణ వృషభాన్ని కర్మకాండ ప్రకారం విడిచిపెట్టవచ్చు; లేక నియమానుసారం దక్షిణలతో కూడిన అశ్వమేధ యాగాన్ని నిర్వహించవచ్చు.

गौरीम्a fair (gaurī)
गौरीम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootगौरी (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)
वाor
वा:
Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवा (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; विकल्पार्थक (disjunctive particle)
अपिalso/even
अपि:
Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअपि (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; निपात (particle), समुच्चय/अपि-भाव (also/even)
उद्वहेत्should marry (carry up)
उद्वहेत्:
Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootउद्-वह् (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपद
कन्याम्a maiden
कन्याम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootकन्या (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)
नीलम्black/blue
नीलम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Rootनील (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (qualifying वृषम्)
वाor
वा:
Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवा (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; विकल्पार्थक (or)
वृषम्a bull
वृषम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootवृष (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)
उत्सृजेत्should release/let go
उत्सृजेत्:
Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootउत्-सृज् (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपद
यजेतshould perform sacrifice
यजेत:
Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootयज् (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); आत्मनेपद
वाor
वा:
Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवा (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; विकल्पार्थक (or)
अश्वमेधेनby/with the Aśvamedha sacrifice
अश्वमेधेन:
Karana (Instrument/करण)
TypeNoun
Rootअश्व + मेध (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular)
विधिवत्properly, as prescribed
विधिवत्:
Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootविधिवत् (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb) — ‘according to rule’
दक्षिणावताwith (due) sacrificial fees/gifts
दक्षिणावता:
Karana (Accompaniment/करण)
TypeAdjective
Rootदक्षिणावत् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (qualifying implied agent/यजमानः)

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

P
Parāśara
M
Maitreya
A
Aśvamedha
D
Dharma
V
Vṛṣa (bull as ritual symbol)

FAQs

It is presented as a ritual remedy: the formal “release” (utsarga) of a bull functions as a dharmic act meant to counterbalance a fault and re-establish moral-ritual order.

Parāśara lists graded, rule-bound options—marriage, a symbolic animal release, or a major royal sacrifice—emphasizing that correction must be performed vidhivat (according to injunction) and completed with proper dakṣiṇā.

Even when Vishnu is not named, the verse assumes a Vishnu-centered cosmos where yajña and dharma uphold universal order; rightful rites are a means of aligning human conduct with the sovereign, sustaining reality governed by the Supreme.