Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 130

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

Devanagari script

वृषोत्सर्गसमं किञ्चित् साधनं नदिवः परम् / मया धर्मरहस्यं ते कथितं राजसत्तम

Transliteration

vṛṣotsargasamaṃ kiñcit sādhanaṃ nadivaḥ param / mayā dharmarahasyaṃ te kathitaṃ rājasattama

Translation

اے بہترین بادشاہ! وِرشوتسرگ کے برابر کوئی اعلیٰ وسیلہ نہیں؛ اس کے مثل کچھ بھی نہیں۔ میں نے تجھے دھرم کا پوشیدہ راز بیان کر دیا۔

Word by Word

• वृषोत्सर्ग-समम्: equal to vṛṣotsarga
• वृषोत्सर्ग-समम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृषोत्सर्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; उपमान-तत्पुरुष (वृषोत्सर्गस्य समम् = equal to bull-release)

• किञ्चित्: anything
• किञ्चित्: Karta (Existential subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अनिश्चित-प्रमाण (something/anything)

• साधनम्: means, practice
• साधनम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Negation (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation particle)

• द्विवः: (text uncertain) possibly ‘O twice-born’ / or ‘not of heaven’
• द्विवः: Sambodhana/Unclear
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वि (संख्याप्रातिपदिक) + वस्/वः (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: रूपपाठ-अनिश्चित; पाठभेद/दुर्लभ-रूपम्। सम्भाव्यः अर्थः: ‘द्विवः’ इति संबोधन/विशेषणरूपेण (O twice-born) अथवा ‘न दिवः’ (न + दिवः) इति सन्धिविच्छेदः सम्भवः।

• परम्: higher, superior
• परम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (साधनम्)

• मया: by me
• मया: Kartr-karana (Agent expressed instrumentally)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• धर्म-रहस्यम्: the secret of dharma
• धर्म-रहस्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + रहस्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (धर्मस्य रहस्यम्)

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: मध्यमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative) एकवचन (also possible षष्ठी); अत्र सम्प्रदानार्थे (to you)

• कथितम्: has been explained
• कथितम्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथ् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; (it) has been told

• राज-सत्तम: O best of kings
• राज-सत्तम: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक) + सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुषभावः (श्रेष्ठः राजा)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra within the Preta Kanda teaching context)

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: As a dharmic rite performed with vidhi; often connected with death-related merit and protection though not explicitly timed here.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Vṛṣotsarga is presented as an unparalleled sādhana (means) within ritual-dharma; dharma has an inner ‘rahasya’ accessible through right acts.

Vedantic Theme: Hierarchy of means: ritual merit as preparatory support; ‘rahasya’ hints at deeper order (ṛta/dharma) behind actions.

Application: Prioritize high-impact, well-attested charitable/ritual acts; do fewer things but do them correctly and wholeheartedly.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: didactic discourse

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.6.129 (command to perform); Garuda Purana 2.6.131 (exception rule for a specific death case); Garuda Purana 2.6.132 (execution of the rite)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of vṛṣotsarga in the Garuda Purana?

This verse elevates vṛṣotsarga (the ritual gifting/releasing of a bull) as a supreme sādhana, implying exceptionally high merit among dharma-based rites connected with post-death welfare and sacred giving.

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

While not describing the journey directly, it highlights that specific dharmic rites and donations are presented as powerful supports for attaining auspicious post-death outcomes, framing ritual merit as a key aid in the afterlife narrative of the Preta Kanda.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Live by dharma and practice meaningful charity; when performing śrāddha or memorial rites, prioritize sincere, ethical giving (dāna) and consult qualified tradition-bearers for correct, compassionate observance.