Shloka 59

Praise of Vṛṣotsarga (Bull-release), Worthy Dāna, and the Procedure for Kṣayāha & Ūrdhva-daihika Rites

Devanagari script

यच्छ्रुत्वा सर्वपापेभ्यो मुच्यते नात्र संशयः / श्रुत्वा महात्म्यमतुलं गरुडो हर्षमागतः / मानुषाणां हितार्थाय पुनः प्रपच्छकेशवम्

Transliteration

yacchrutvā sarvapāpebhyo mucyate nātra saṃśayaḥ / śrutvā mahātmyamatulaṃ garuḍo harṣamāgataḥ / mānuṣāṇāṃ hitārthāya punaḥ prapacchakeśavam

Translation

Wer dies hört, wird von allen Sünden befreit—daran besteht kein Zweifel. Nachdem Garuḍa diese unvergleichliche Herrlichkeit vernommen hatte, wurde er von Freude erfüllt und fragte zum Wohle der Menschen Keśava (den Herrn Viṣṇu) erneut.

Word by Word

• यत्: which/that (teaching)
• यत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘यत्’ = which/that (object of hearing)

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Purvakala (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund); ‘श्रुत्वा’ = having heard

• सर्वपापेभ्यः: from all sins
• सर्वपापेभ्यः: Apadana (Source/अपाादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समासः (सर्वाणि पापानि); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• मुच्यते: is freed
• मुच्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि/मध्य-भावः ‘is released’

• न: no/not
• न: Sambandha (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• अत्र: here/in this matter
• अत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• संशयः: doubt
• संशयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Purvakala (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त; ‘having heard’

• महात्म्यम्: greatness/glory
• महात्म्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात्म्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अतुलम्: incomparable
• अतुलम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अतुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (महात्म्यम्)

• गरुडः: Garuḍa
• गरुडः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गरुड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• हर्षम्: joy
• हर्षम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आगतः: attained/came to
• आगतः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-गम् (धातु) + क्त (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP used actively), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘आगतः’ = came/attained

• मानुषाणाम्: of humans
• मानुषाणाम्: Sambandha (Beneficiary genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मानुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• हितार्थाय: for (their) welfare
• हितार्थाय: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हित (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषः (हितस्य अर्थः); पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थ-द्योतकः

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Sambandha (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/पुनरावृत्ति-वाचक-अव्यय (adverb)

• प्रपच्छ: asked
• प्रपच्छ: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-प्रच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘he asked’

• केशवम्: Keśava (Viṣṇu)
• केशवम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केशव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

Narrator (Sūta/compilation voice) describing Garuḍa’s response after hearing Lord Viṣṇu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śravaṇa (hearing) of sacred greatness purifies sins; the compassionate transmission of dharma occurs through questioning and teaching centered on Keśava.

Vedantic Theme: Bhakti-sādhana via śravaṇa-kīrtana; grace mediated through attentive listening and sincere inquiry.

Application: Regularly listen to/recite Purāṇic teachings with attention; ask clarifying questions to apply dharma for communal welfare.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana phala-śruti patterns: hearing/reciting sections removes pāpa; Garuḍa’s repeated questioning structure across chapters

Characters & Entities

• Garuḍa
• Keśava (Lord Viṣṇu)

FAQs

What is the importance of hearing (śravaṇa) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that merely hearing this sacred teaching brings release from all sins, emphasizing śravaṇa as a powerful purificatory practice.

How does this verse connect to the Garuda–Viṣṇu dialogue about the afterlife?

It shows Garuḍa’s joyful response to Viṣṇu’s teaching and sets up further questioning, indicating the instruction is meant for human welfare and guidance regarding post-death realities.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Regularly listen to or study dharmic teachings with sincerity, and let that understanding translate into ethical conduct, repentance, and disciplined living.