Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 46

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

Devanagari script

विरक्त इन्द्रियार्थेभ्यः स मे पूज्यो न संशयः / तीर्थयात्रापरो नित्यं वृषोत्सर्गविशेषवित्

Transliteration

virakta indriyārthebhyaḥ sa me pūjyo na saṃśayaḥ / tīrthayātrāparo nityaṃ vṛṣotsargaviśeṣavit

Translation

Người lìa bỏ các đối tượng của giác quan thì đáng để ta tôn kính—không nghi ngờ. Lại luôn chuyên tâm hành hương đến các thánh địa (tīrtha), và am tường nghi thức cùng các phân biệt của lễ phóng thả bò đực (vṛṣotsarga), người ấy thật đáng tôn thờ.

Word by Word

• विरक्तः: detached/dispassionate
• विरक्तः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + रक्त (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; रक्त = √रञ्ज् (धातु) क्त-प्रत्यय, उपसर्ग: वि-; विशेषण (detached)

• इन्द्रियार्थेभ्यः: from sense-objects
• इन्द्रियार्थेभ्यः: Apadana (Source/Separation/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्रिय + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन, सर्वनाम

• मे: my/to me
• मे: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular), सर्वनाम

• पूज्यः: worthy of worship
• पूज्यः: Pratijna (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूज्य (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; √पूज् (धातु) यत्/ण्यत्-प्रत्यय (gerundive: to be worshipped), विशेषण

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निषेध-निपात (negation particle)

• संशयः: doubt
• संशयः: Pratishedha (Negated predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तीर्थयात्रापरः: intent on pilgrimage
• तीर्थयात्रापरः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तीर्थयात्रा + पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• नित्यम्: always/constantly
• नित्यम्: Kriya-visheshana (Temporal/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाववत् क्रियाविशेषण-प्रयोग (adverbial accusative), नपुंसक-द्वितीया एकवचन

• वृषोत्सर्गविशेषवित्: knower of the special rules of bull-release (vṛṣotsarga)
• वृषोत्सर्गविशेषवित्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृषोत्सर्ग + विशेष + विद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विद्-प्रत्ययान्त (knower), समासान्त-पद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Performed as a dharmic rite; often associated in later practice with śrāddha/ancestral merit contexts, but here stated generally as vṛṣotsarga-vidhi.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Detachment from sense-objects, regular tīrtha-yātrā, and correct performance/knowledge of vṛṣotsarga mark a venerable person.

Vedantic Theme: Vairāgya as inner purification supporting bhakti/jñāna; karma performed with śuddhi and niyama.

Application: Practice sensory moderation; undertake periodic pilgrimages or local sacred visits; learn and perform rites responsibly through competent guidance.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: sacred ford network

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: sections praising vairagya and tīrtha-mahātmyas; Garuda Purana: śrāddha-related ancillary rites including vṛṣotsarga in some recensions

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Tirthas

FAQs

What is the importance of detachment (vairāgya) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that freedom from attachment to sense-objects is itself a mark of a truly venerable person, implying inner renunciation is a primary spiritual qualification even alongside ritual merit.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana death rituals and post-death benefit?

By praising one who knows vṛṣotsarga and regularly undertakes tīrtha-yātrā, the verse links inner discipline with recognized dharmic rites that are traditionally understood to generate merit supporting a favorable post-death course.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate restraint from sense-driven habits, undertake sincere visits to sacred places when possible, and if performing traditional rites, learn the procedure from competent guidance so actions are done with clarity and dharmic intent.