Shloka 124

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

Devanagari script

दिव्यरूपाभवन् स्पृष्टा गोपुच्छोदकशीकरैः / सुरूपाः पुष्टवपुषः पश्यन्तो दूरसंस्थिताः

Transliteration

divyarūpābhavan spṛṣṭā gopucchodakaśīkaraiḥ / surūpāḥ puṣṭavapuṣaḥ paśyanto dūrasaṃsthitāḥ

Translation

گائے کی دُم سے چھڑکے ہوئے پانی کے قطروں کے لمس سے وہ دیویہ روپ والے ہو گئے—خوبصورت، خوش اندام اور بھرپور جسم والے—اور دور کی چیزوں کو بھی دیکھنے کے قابل بن گئے۔

Word by Word

• divya: divine
• divya: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: divya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-बहुवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Plural) — समासपूर्वपद (compound member)

• rūpāḥ: forms, appearances
• rūpāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-बहुवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Plural) — समस्तपद ‘दिव्यरूपाः’

• abhavan: became
• abhavan: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन (3rd person plural) परस्मैपद

• spṛṣṭāḥ: touched
• spṛṣṭāḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √spṛś (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-बहुवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Plural)

• go: cow
• go: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: go (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासपूर्वपद (compound member)

• puccha: tail
• puccha: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puccha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासपूर्वपद (compound member)

• udaka: water
• udaka: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: udaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासपूर्वपद (compound member)

• śīkaraiḥ: with droplets/sprays
• śīkaraiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śīkara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-बहुवचन (Masculine, Instrumental, Plural) — समस्तपद ‘गोपुच्छोदकशीकरैः’

• su: well, beautifully
• su: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: su (अव्यय/उपसर्ग)
• Form: उपसर्ग/अव्यय — समासपूर्वपद (prefix ‘well/beautifully’)

• rūpāḥ: handsome, of good form
• rūpāḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-बहुवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Plural) — विशेषणरूपेण

• puṣṭa: well-nourished
• puṣṭa: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √puṣ (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; समासपूर्वपद (compound member)

• vapuṣaḥ: bodies
• vapuṣaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vapus (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-बहुवचन (Neuter, Nominative, Plural) — समस्तपद ‘पुष्टवपुषः’

• paśyantaḥ: seeing, beholding
• paśyantaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √paś (धातु) + śatṛ (कृत्)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-बहुवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Plural)

• dūra: far
• dūra: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dūra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासपूर्वपद (compound member)

• saṃsthitāḥ: standing/placed
• saṃsthitāḥ: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-√sthā (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-बहुवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Plural) — समस्तपद ‘दूरसंस्थिताः’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Contact with sanctified substances linked to dharmic rites yields visible karmic fruits (beauty, vigor, expanded sight).

Vedantic Theme: Sattva-śuddhi: purity gained through dharmic association refines body-mind instruments (indriyas).

Application: Maintain reverence for ritual purity and ethical conduct; treat service to sacred beings (cow/bull) as cultivating sattva and clarity of perception.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.6 (sequence: attendants’ merit and ensuing transformations)

Characters & Entities

• Cow (Go)
• Preta (departed soul)

FAQs

What is the importance of cow-tail water droplets in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents them as a purifying, transformative touch that bestows a more radiant, strengthened subtle form and heightened perception to the departed.

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

It implies that specific ritual-linked purifications can directly affect the preta’s condition—improving form, vitality, and perceptual capacity during the post-death journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It reinforces the value placed on sincere, scripturally guided śrāddha/udaka offerings and compassionate care for cows as part of dharmic remembrance of the departed.