Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 61

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

Devanagari script

मृतानां यत्र जन्तूनां कर्णे जपति तारकम् / पुलहस्याश्रमं पुण्यं फल्गुतीर्थञ्च गण्डकी

Transliteration

mṛtānāṃ yatra jantūnāṃ karṇe japati tārakam / pulahasyāśramaṃ puṇyaṃ phalgutīrthañca gaṇḍakī

Translation

Yaong banal na pook kung saan ibinubulong sa tainga ng mga nilalang na naghihingalo ang mapagpalayang mantrang “Tāraka”—naroon din ang banal na āśrama ni Pulaha, ang marangal na tīrtha ng Phalgu, at ang ilog Gaṇḍakī.

Word by Word

• मृतानाम्: of the dead
• मृतानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛta (प्रातिपदिक; √मृ धातोः क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी, बहुवचन; (of the dead)

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

• जन्तूनाम्: of beings/creatures
• जन्तूनाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jantu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• कर्णे: in the ear
• कर्णे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी, एकवचन

• जपति: chants/mutters
• जपति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √जप् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• तारकम्: the Tāraka (mantra)
• तारकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tāraka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; (mantra-name)

• पुलहस्य: of Pulaha
• पुलहस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pulaha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी, एकवचन

• आश्रमम्: hermitage
• आश्रमम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āśrama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन

• पुण्यम्: holy
• पुण्यम्: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: puṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying āśramam)

• फल्गु-तीर्थम्: Phalgu-tīrtha
• फल्गु-तीर्थम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: phalgu (प्रातिपदिक) + tīrtha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (name of a tīrtha)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• गण्डकी: Gaṇḍakī (river)
• गण्डकी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṇḍakī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; (river-name; listed as tīrtha)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Moksha

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Anta-kāla smaraṇa aided by mantra (tāraka) and kṣetra-grace; sacred places support liberation-oriented remembrance at death.

Vedantic Theme: Antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi and anta-kāla-vṛtti: the final mental modification, supported by mantra and grace, is pivotal for gati; bhakti as a liberating orientation.

Application: Prepare for death through daily japa, cultivating remembrance of the divine; support end-of-life spiritual care (mantra, calm environment) consistent with the person’s tradition.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: city/kṣetra; āśrama; tīrtha; river

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.6.60-62 (Kāśī and tīrtha enumeration context)

Characters & Entities

• Pulaha
• Tāraka Mantra
• Phalgu Tirtha
• Gandaki River

FAQs

What is the importance of the Tāraka mantra in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights the Tāraka as a “deliverer” mantra—traditionally whispered into the ear at the time of death—considered spiritually supportive for the soul’s auspicious transition and liberation-oriented remembrance.

How does this verse connect pilgrimage (tīrtha) with the journey after death?

By listing Pulaha’s āśrama, Phalgu tīrtha, and the Gaṇḍakī, the verse frames certain sacred places as merit-giving supports for end-of-life rites and post-death welfare, aligning tīrtha-sevā with śrāddha and liberation-focused intent.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Keep a steady practice of divine-name remembrance, support elders with calm spiritual recitation at life’s end, and if possible perform śrāddha/pinda-related duties or charity with sincere intention—treating sacred acts as aids to inner purity and duty (dharma).