Shloka 31
Praise of Vṛṣotsarga (Bull-release), Worthy Dāna, and the Procedure for Kṣayāha & Ūrdhva-daihika Rites
न्यूनं संपूर्णतां याति वृषोत्सर्गे कृते सति / सुतृप्तो दुस्तरे मार्गे मृतो याति न संशयः
nyūnaṃ saṃpūrṇatāṃ yāti vṛṣotsarge kṛte sati / sutṛpto dustare mārge mṛto yāti na saṃśayaḥ
เมื่อประกอบพิธีวฤษโอตสรรค์ (ปล่อยโคเพศผู้) โดยถูกต้อง สิ่งที่ขาดย่อมกลับเป็นความครบถ้วน ผู้ตายย่อมอิ่มเอิบแล้วดำเนินไปตามหนทางอันยากยิ่ง—ปราศจากข้อสงสัย
Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vainateya)
Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey
Beneficiary: Pitr
Concept: Proper performance of vṛṣotsarga completes deficiencies in śrāddha-related obligations and grants the deceased satisfaction for traversing the difficult path after death.
Vedantic Theme: Karma-kāṇḍa as upāya for pitṛ-prīti and gati; ritual action shaping subtle outcomes (adr̥ṣṭa-phala).
Application: If tradition permits and resources allow, perform vṛṣotsarga through authorized ritual channels (often via gauśālā/temple trust), ensuring the animal’s lifelong care; accompany with feeding and dāna.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Type: ritual ground
Related Themes: Garuda Purana passages praising go-dāna and vṛṣotsarga for preta-gati; Garuda Purana descriptions of the ‘difficult path’ (duṣṭara mārga) in the post-mortem journey
FAQs
This verse states that performing vṛṣotsarga makes what is spiritually “lacking” become “complete,” implying it is a corrective/fulfilling rite that supports the departed in the post-death journey.
It describes the post-death route as “dustara” (hard to cross) and says the deceased moves through it “sutṛpta” (well-satisfied) when the prescribed rite is performed, indicating rituals can ease the preta’s passage.
It encourages careful, dharmic performance of ancestral rites (as per one’s tradition and capacity) with the intent of relieving the departed and completing one’s obligations to family lineage and pitṛ-duty.