Shloka 132

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

Devanagari script

श्रीकृष्ण उवाच / श्रुत्वा वाक्यं वसिष्ठस्य राजा मधुपुरीं गतः / चकार विधिवत् सर्वं वृषोत्सर्गमहं खग

Transliteration

śrīkṛṣṇa uvāca / śrutvā vākyaṃ vasiṣṭhasya rājā madhupurīṃ gataḥ / cakāra vidhivat sarvaṃ vṛṣotsargamahaṃ khaga

Translation

Śrī Kṛṣṇa nói: Nghe lời Vasiṣṭha, nhà vua đến Madhupurī và cử hành đúng nghi thức mọi việc—hỡi Chim (Garuda)—kể cả đại lễ vṛṣotsarga.

Word by Word

• श्री-कृष्णः: Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• श्री-कृष्णः: Karta (Speaker/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक) + कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (श्रीमान् कृष्णः)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (Speech act/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Kriya (पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), अव्ययभावः; पूर्वकालिकक्रिया

• वाक्यम्: the statement
• वाक्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• वसिष्ठस्य: of Vasiṣṭha
• वसिष्ठस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसिष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• राजा: the king
• राजा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• मधु-पुरीम्: to Madhupurī (Mathurā)
• मधु-पुरीम्: Karma (Goal/गन्तव्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मधु (प्रातिपदिक) + पुरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (मधोः पुरी)

• गतः: went
• गतः: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (PPP used actively), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• चकार: did, performed
• चकार: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• विधिवत्: properly, as prescribed
• विधिवत्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विधिवत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: according to rule)

• सर्वम्: everything
• सर्वम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मपद (everything)

• वृषोत्सर्गम्: the bull-release rite
• वृषोत्सर्गम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृष (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्सर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• खग: O bird (Garuda)
• खग: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

Speaker

Śrī Kṛṣṇa (narrating to Garuda)

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Performed as a major dharmic rite (often connected with death-related merit/protection though not explicitly stated here).

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śāstra-guided action (vidhivat) actualizes dharma; hearing (śravaṇa) must mature into performance (anuṣṭhāna).

Vedantic Theme: Karma-yoga principle: disciplined action aligned with dharma purifies and stabilizes the mind.

Application: Convert guidance into concrete steps: travel/prepare, follow procedure, complete the act without omission.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: sacred city/royal city

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.6.129-130 (Vasiṣṭha’s instruction and praise); Garuda Purana 2.6.128 (response to wise words)

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• Vasiṣṭha
• King (Rājā)
• Madhupurī (Mathurā)
• Garuda (Khaga)

FAQs

What is the importance of vṛṣotsarga in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights vṛṣotsarga as a major, rule-bound rite included among prescribed observances; it is treated as a powerful supportive act within the broader framework of post-death/ancestral rituals.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana narrative?

Indirectly: it emphasizes that correct performance of prescribed rites (vidhivat) is part of the tradition’s support-system for the departed, implying that ritual duty accompanies the soul’s post-mortem journey described elsewhere in the Preta Kanda.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Follow dharmic guidance carefully—whether performing śrāddha/ancestral rites or any sacred duty—by seeking learned instruction (like Vasiṣṭha’s counsel) and completing observances with proper procedure and sincerity.