Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 73

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

Devanagari script

विश्वरूपं वन्दितीर्थं रत्नेशः कुहकाचलः / नरनारायणं दृष्ट्वा मुच्यते पापकोटिभिः

Transliteration

viśvarūpaṃ vanditīrthaṃ ratneśaḥ kuhakācalaḥ / naranārāyaṇaṃ dṛṣṭvā mucyate pāpakoṭibhiḥ

Translation

瞻礼那罗—那罗延那，于被尊奉为“毗湿瓦鲁帕”的圣渡口，以及宝主（Ratneśa）与库哈迦遮罗（Kuhakācala）之处，便能解脱无量亿数之罪。

Word by Word

• विश्वरूपम्: Viśvarūpa (the all-formed one)
• विश्वरूपम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्व + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्मपद (object)

• वन्दितीर्थम्: the revered sacred ford/place of pilgrimage
• वन्दितीर्थम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन्दित + तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्मपद

• रत्नेशः: Ratneśa (lord of gems; a sacred name/place)
• रत्नेशः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रत्न + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्तृपद

• कुहकाचलः: Kuhakācala (the Kuhaka mountain)
• कुहकाचलः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुहक + अचल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्तृपद

• नरनारायणम्: Nara-Nārāyaṇa
• नरनारायणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर + नारायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्मपद

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriya (Non-finite verb/क्रियाविशेष)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया—‘having seen’

• मुच्यते: is freed
• मुच्यते: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive)

• पापकोटिभिः: from/by crores of sins
• पापकोटिभिः: Karana/Hetu (Instrument/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप + कोटि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; करण/हेतु-भाव (instrumental/ablative sense in passive)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Darśana and reverent pilgrimage to Bhagavat-associated tīrthas destroys pāpa and turns the mind toward purity.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara-anugraha as the catalyst that attenuates karma-bandha; śuddhi as a prerequisite for jñāna.

Application: Undertake tīrtha-yātrā or mentally remember (smaraṇa) Nara-Nārāyaṇa and these tīrthas with faith; pair with ethical living to sustain the purification.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: tirtha and mountain shrine complex

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.6 (tirtha-mahatmya sequence continuing through 2.6.74–77)

Characters & Entities

• Nara-Narayana
• Vishvarupa
• Ratnesha
• Kuhakachala

FAQs

What is the importance of Nara-Nārāyaṇa darśana in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that merely beholding Nara-Nārāyaṇa at revered tirthas is credited with freeing a person from vast accumulations of sin (pāpa-koṭi), highlighting darśana as a powerful purifier.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey and after-death concerns?

In the Preta Kanda context, sin (pāpa) is what intensifies suffering after death; the verse presents tirtha-darśana and devotion as means to reduce that burden, supporting a smoother post-death passage.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate sincere devotion (darśana, remembrance, reverence) and, when possible, undertake meaningful pilgrimage or sacred visits with ethical living—treating purification as both inner reform and outward practice.