Shloka 19

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

Devanagari script

तीर्थे पित्र्येक्षयाहे च विशेषेण प्रशस्यते / लोहितो यस्तु वर्णेन मुखे पुच्छे च पाण्डुरः

Transliteration

tīrthe pitryekṣayāhe ca viśeṣeṇa praśasyate / lohito yastu varṇena mukhe pucche ca pāṇḍuraḥ

Translation

تیرتھ میں اور پِتروں کے کرم کے لیے مقررہ کَشیَاہ (شرادھ کے دن) میں یہ خاص طور پر قابلِ ستائش ہے—جو رنگ میں لال ہو، مگر چہرے اور دُم کے پاس پھیکا (پانڈُر) ہو۔

Word by Word

• तीर्थे: at a sacred ford/place
• तीर्थे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• पित्र्ये: ancestral (pertaining to Pitṛs)
• पित्र्ये: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पित्र्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; विशेषण (श्राद्धादि-संबन्धि)

• क्षयाहे: on the day of (lunar) waning/ksaya
• क्षयाहे: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षयाह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (क्षयस्य अहः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चय/coordination conjunction)

• विशेषेण: especially
• विशेषेण: Karana (Manner/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विशेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषण-प्रयोग (instrumental of manner)

• प्रशस्यते: is praised/commended
• प्रशस्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + शंस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive)

• लोहितः: red
• लोहितः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लोहित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• यः: who/which
• यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (विरोध/अवधारण particle)

• वर्णेन: by color
• वर्णेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• मुखे: on the face/mouth
• मुखे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• पुच्छे: on the tail
• पुच्छे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुच्छ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चय/coordination conjunction)

• पाण्डुरः: pale/whitish
• पाण्डुरः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाण्डुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Pitṛyajña day / appointed pitṛ observance; especially at tīrtha

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual appropriateness depends on deśa-kāla (tīrtha, pitṛ-day) and śubha-lakṣaṇa (auspicious characteristics) of the offering/animal/indicator.

Vedantic Theme: Karma performed with śraddhā and correctness purifies the mind; outer order supports inner recollection of dharma.

Application: When performing pitṛ rites at a tīrtha or on the appointed pitṛ day, choose the recommended auspiciously marked offering/animal/sign as per tradition.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: tirtha

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana śrāddha-vidhi passages: tīrtha-śrāddha praise; lakṣaṇa-based selection of dāna objects/animals (general internal continuity)

Characters & Entities

• Pitris
• Tirtha

FAQs

What is the importance of performing Pitṛ rites at a tīrtha according to the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights that acts connected with Pitṛ observances performed at a tīrtha are “especially praised,” implying heightened merit and suitability for ancestral satisfaction.

How does this verse relate to śrāddha and signs of auspiciousness?

It points to a specific praised characteristic—reddish overall but pale at the face and tail—functioning as an auspicious marker in the context of Pitṛ-related ritual observances.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When conducting śrāddha or Pitṛ rites (especially during Pitṛ-focused days), prioritize proper place (tīrtha when possible) and careful, rule-based selection of ritual items as guided by tradition.