Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 123

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

Devanagari script

वीरपञ्चाननाख्यातञ्चतुर्वर्गैकसाधकम् / प्रकुर्वतो वृषोत्सर्गं तत्र ये परिचारकाः

Transliteration

vīrapañcānanākhyātañcaturvargaikasādhakam / prakurvato vṛṣotsargaṃ tatra ye paricārakāḥ

Translation

Những người hầu cận trợ giúp tại đó trong nghi lễ phóng thả bò đực (vṛṣotsarga)—nghi lễ cũng nổi danh là “Vīra-pañcānana” và được xem như một phương tiện duy nhất để thành tựu bốn mục tiêu đời người—đều nhờ sự phụng sự mà thọ hưởng công đức ấy.

Word by Word

• vīra: heroic, brave
• vīra: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Singular) — समासपूर्वपद (compound member)

• pañcānana: five-faced (epithet)
• pañcānana: Visheshya (Qualified noun/विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pañca (प्रातिपदिक) + ānana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Singular) — समासपूर्वपद; कर्मधारयः (five-faced)

• ākhyātam: called, known as
• ākhyātam: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā-√khyā (धातु) + kta (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Singular) — ‘called/known as’

• caturvarga: of the four aims of life
• caturvarga: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: catur (प्रातिपदिक) + varga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-एकवचन (Masculine, Genitive, Singular) — समासपूर्वपद; तत्पुरुषः (of the four aims)

• eka: single, one
• eka: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-एकवचन (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular) — समासपूर्वपद (compound member)

• sādhakam: accomplisher, means of accomplishment
• sādhakam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: √sādh (धातु) + ṇvul/aka (कृत्)
• Form: ण्वुल्/अक-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (agent noun); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Singular)

• prakurvataḥ: of (one) performing
• prakurvataḥ: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-√kṛ (धातु) + śatṛ (कृत्)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-एकवचन (Masculine, Genitive, Singular) — ‘of (him) doing/performing’

• vṛṣa: bull
• vṛṣa: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग — समासपूर्वपद (compound member)

• utsargam: release (ritual letting loose)
• utsargam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: utsarga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-एकवचन (Masculine, Accusative, Singular) — समस्तपद ‘वृषोत्सर्ग’ (bull-release rite)

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय — स्थानवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb: ‘there’)

• ye: who, those who
• ye: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-बहुवचन (Pronoun, Masculine, Nominative, Plural)

• paricārakāḥ: attendants, servants
• paricārakāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pari-√car (धातु) + ṇvul/aka (कृत्)
• Form: ण्वुल्/अक-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (agent noun); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-बहुवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Plural)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Sevā (assisting a dharmic rite) becomes a direct share in yajña-phala; vṛṣotsarga is praised as a single practice supporting the four puruṣārthas.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-yoga orientation: selfless participation in dharmic action purifies and supports higher aims.

Application: Support communal rites and charitable dharmic acts (logistics, offerings, cleanliness, guidance) with non-egoistic intent; honor cow/bull-related dharma as a merit-bearing service.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.6 (context: vṛṣotsarga/vṛṣa-yajña and its fruits)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Puruṣārthas

FAQs

What is the importance of vṛṣotsarga in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats vṛṣotsarga as a highly meritorious śrāddha-related act, celebrated under a special epithet and praised as powerfully supportive of the four human aims (puruṣārthas).

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

In the Preta Kanda context, it emphasizes that specific post-death rites generate transferable merit and support; even those who assist the rite participate in that merit, reinforcing the ritual economy that aids the departed.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Approach funeral and śrāddha duties with sincerity and service-mindedness; even supportive roles (helping, arranging, assisting priests/family) are presented as spiritually meaningful when aligned with dharma.