Garuda Purana

एष्टव्या बहवः पुत्रा यद्येकोऽपि गयां व्रजेत् । यजेत वाश्वमेधेन नीलं वा वृषमुत्सृजेत् ॥ २,६.

Many sons should be desired, for if even one goes to Gayā, or performs an Aśvamedha sacrifice, or releases a blue bull, it is meritorious.

ब्रह्महत्यादिपापानि ज्ञानाज्ञानकृतानि च । नीलोद्वाहेन शुध्येत्तु समुद्रप्लवनेन वा ॥ २,६.

Sins such as brahmin-murder and others, whether done knowingly or unknowingly, are purified by releasing a blue bull or by immersion in the ocean.

एकादशाहे राजेन्द्र यस्य नोत्सूज्यते वृषः । प्रेतत्वं निश्चलं तस्य कृतैः श्राद्धैस्तु किं भवेत् ॥ २,६.

O king, if a bull is not released on the eleventh day, then the state of being a ghost is certain for that person—what use are the śrāddha rites performed?

यथाकथञ्चित्कर्तव्यस्तीर्थे वा पत्तनेऽथ वा । वृषयज्ञैः प्रमुच्यते नान्यथा साधनैः खग ॥ २,६.

Whether performed in any manner, at a sacred ford or in a city, one is released only by the bull-sacrifice, O Bird, and not by other means.

वृषभं पञ्चकल्याणं युवानं कृष्णकंबलम् । गोयूथमध्ये नितरां विचरन्तं विधानतः ॥ २,६.

A bull possessing the five auspicious marks, young, with a dark hide, and moving properly among a herd of cows, is to be selected according to rule.

चतसृभिर्वत्सकाभिर्द्वाभ्याञ्चैवैकया खग । विवाह्य मङ्गलद्रव्यैर्मन्त्रवत्तं समुत्सृजेत् ॥ २,६.

With four, two, or one calf, let it be ritually married with auspicious items, and then, with mantras, let it be released.

इह रतीति षडृग्भिर्हेमं कुर्याद्विभावसोः । कार्तिक्यां माघवैशाख्यां संक्रमे पातपर्वसु ॥ २,६.

With six Rigvedic verses beginning 'iha rati', one should make a golden image of Agni, during Kārtika, Māgha, or Vaiśākha, at a solstice or lunar eclipse.

तीर्थे पित्र्येक्षयाहे च विशेषेण प्रशस्यते । लोहितो यस्तु वर्णेन मुखे पुच्छे च पाण्डुरः ॥ २,६.

At a sacred ford or on the day of ancestors, this rite is especially praised; a bull that is red in color, with a white mouth and tail, is best.

पीतः खुरविषाणेषु स नीलो वृष उच्यते । श्वेतवर्णो भवेद्विप्रो लोहितः क्षत्त्र उच्यते ॥ २,६.

A bull that is yellow at the hooves and horns, and blue elsewhere, is so called; a white one is for a Brahmin, a red one is said to be for a Kshatriya.

पीतवर्णो भवेद्वैश्यः शूद्रः कृष्णः स्मृतो बुधैः । यथावर्णं समुद्दिष्टो वर्णेषु ब्राह्मणादिषु ॥ २,६.

A yellow one is for a Vaishya, and a black one is known by the wise as for a Shudra; thus, the color is prescribed according to the four classes, beginning with Brahmins.

अथ वा रक्तवर्णस्तु सर्वेषामेव शस्यते । पिता पितामहश्चैव तथैव प्रपितामहः ॥ २,६.

Alternatively, a red-colored bull is praised for all; father, grandfather, and great-grandfather alike.

आशासते सुतं जातं वृषोत्सर्गं करिष्यति । धर्मस्त्वं वृषरूपेण जगदानन्ददायकः ॥ २,६.

They hope that a son will be born who will perform the bull-release; you are Dharma in the form of a bull, giver of joy to the world.

अष्टमूर्तेरधिष्ठानमतः शान्तिं प्रयच्छ मे । गङ्गायमुनयोः पेयमन्तर्वेदि तृणं चर ॥ २,६.

Abode of the eight-formed one, therefore grant me peace; drink the waters of the Ganga and Yamuna, and graze on grass within the sacrificial enclosure.

धर्मराजस्य पुरतो वाच्यं मे सुकृतं वृष । दक्षिणांसे त्रिशूलाङ्कं वामोरौ चक्रचिह्नितम् ॥ २,६.

Before the Lord of Dharma, let my good deeds be spoken by you, O bull; on your right shoulder is the mark of a trident, on your left thigh the sign of a discus.

इति संप्रार्थ्य वृषभं गन्धपुष्पाक्षतादिभिः । वृषं तत्सतरीयुक्तं पूजयित्वा समुत्सृजेत् ॥ २,६.

Having thus prayed to the bull with scents, flowers, rice, and so on, and having worshipped the bull yoked with a cow, let it be released.

तस्माद्राजन् विधानेन वृषोत्सर्गं समाचर । बहुसाधनयुक्तस्य नान्यथा सद्गतिस्तव ॥ २,६.

Therefore, O King, perform the bull-release according to rule; for one endowed with many means, there is no other path to the good state.

आसीत्त्रेतायुगे पूर्वं विदेहनगरे नृप । ब्राह्मणो धर्मवत्सेति स्वकर्मनिरतः सुधीः ॥ २,६.

In former times, in the city of Videha during the Tretā age, there was a wise Brahmin named Dharmavat, devoted to his own duties.

विष्णुभक्तोऽतितेजस्वी यथालाभेन तुष्टिकृत् । पितृपर्वणि संप्राप्ते कुशार्यो काननं ययौ ॥ २,६.

A devotee of Vishnu, of great brilliance, content with what he obtained, when the ancestor-rites arrived, he went to the forest to gather sacred grass.

अटन्नितस्ततस्तत्र चिन्वन् कुशपलाशकम् । सहसोपेत्य पुरुषाश्चात्वारश्चारुदर्शनाः ॥ २,६.

Wandering here and there, collecting kuśa and palāśa grass, suddenly four men of fierce appearance approached him.

विभ्रान्तमनसं गृह्य प्रत्यग्जग्मुर्विहायसा । बहुवृक्षसमाकीर्णं गिरिदुर्गभयानकम् ॥ २,६.

Seizing him, whose mind was bewildered, they went westward through the sky, into a forest thick with trees, mountainous and terrifying.

वनाद्वनान्तरं निन्युर्नदीनदसमाकुलम् । स तत्र नगरं राजन् ददर्श बहुविस्तरम् ॥ २,६.

They led him from forest to forest, through regions filled with rivers and streams; there, O King, he saw a city of great extent.

गोपुरद्वाररचितं सौधप्रासादमण्डितम् । चत्वरापणपण्यादिनरनारीसमाकुलम् ॥ २,६.

With gateways adorned with towers, embellished with mansions and palaces, and crowded with squares, markets, merchants, and men and women.

तूर्यद्वन्द्वाभिनिर्घोषवीणापटहनादितम् । कांश्चित्क्षुधार्दितान्दीनान्मलिनान्विगतौजसः ॥ २,६.

Resounding with the clamor of paired musical instruments, the sounds of lutes and drums; and there, some people, afflicted by hunger, wretched, dirty, and devoid of strength.

ततोऽतितुष्टान्मलिनान्वस्त्रखण्डसमावृतान् । अग्रतो हृष्टपुष्टांश्च स्वर्णवस्त्रोपशोभितान् ॥ २,६.

Then, he saw some exceedingly content, though clothed in tattered garments, and ahead, others who were joyful and well-nourished, adorned with golden ornaments and fine goods.

ततोऽपि सुरसंकाशान्स दृष्ट्वा विस्मितोऽभवत् । किं स्वप्न उत माया वै मदीयो मानसो भ्रमः ॥ २,६.

Beyond that, seeing some who shone like gods, he became astonished: 'Is this a dream, or an illusion, or some confusion of my own mind?'

सन्दिहानं द्विजं निन्युः पुरुषा राजसन्निधिम् । सतद्ददर्श विप्रस्तु स्वर्णप्रासादमन्दिरे ॥ २,६.

While he was doubting, men led the twice-born to the royal presence; and there, the Brahmin saw a palace adorned with gold.

सिंहासनंमहादिव्यं छत्रचामरवीजितम् । तत्रोप विष्टं राजानं किरीटकनकोज्ज्वलम् ॥ २,६.

A great, divine throne, fanned with umbrellas and yak-tail whisks; and upon it sat a king, his crown shining with gold.

महत्या च श्रिया युक्तं स्तूयमानं सुवन्दिभिः । राजापि दृष्ट्वा तं विप्रं प्रत्युत्थाय कृताञ्जलिः ॥ २,६.

Endowed with immense splendor, praised by excellent bards; and the king, seeing the Brahmin, rose to greet him with joined palms.

पूजयामास विधिवन्मधुपर्कास नादिभिः । सन्तुष्टमनसं देवमस्तौषीत्परया मुदा ॥ २,६.

He worshipped him according to proper rites, with offerings such as madhuparka; his mind satisfied, he praised the god with supreme joy.