Shloka 103

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

Devanagari script

क्व स्वप्ने नियतं धैर्यमिन्द्रजाले क्व सत्यता / क्व नित्यता शरन्मेघे क्व वा सत्यं कलेवरे

Transliteration

kva svapne niyataṃ dhairyamindrajāle kva satyatā / kva nityatā śaranmeghe kva vā satyaṃ kalevare

Translation

Wo gibt es im Traum standhaften Mut? Wo ist in der Illusion des Zauberers Wahrheit? Wo ist Beständigkeit in der Herbstwolke? Und wo im Körper ist überhaupt etwas wahrhaft Verlässliches?

Word by Word

• क्व: where?
• क्व: Sambandha (Context/प्रसङ्ग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्व (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय (interrogative adverb: “where?”)

• स्वप्ने: in a dream
• स्वप्ने: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वप्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन (locative singular)

• नियतं: fixed, certain
• नियतं: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नियत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying)

• धैर्यम्: steadfastness, courage
• धैर्यम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धैर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• इन्द्रजाले: in magic/illusion
• इन्द्रजाले: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्रजाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन (locative singular)

• क्व: where?
• क्व: Sambandha (Context/प्रसङ्ग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्व (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय (interrogative adverb)

• सत्यता: truthfulness
• सत्यता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्यता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• क्व: where?
• क्व: Sambandha (Context/प्रसङ्ग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्व (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय (interrogative adverb)

• नित्यता: permanence, eternity
• नित्यता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नित्यता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• शरन्मेघे: in an autumn cloud
• शरन्मेघे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरद् (प्रातिपदिक) + मेघ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (शरदि मेघः = autumn-cloud); पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• क्व: where?
• क्व: Sambandha (Context/प्रसङ्ग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्व (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय (interrogative adverb)

• वा: indeed/or
• वा: Sambandha (Discourse particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय/निपात (particle: “or/indeed”)

• सत्यम्: truth, reality
• सत्यम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• कलेवरे: in the body
• कलेवरे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कलेवर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन (locative singular)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Anityatva and asāratā of phenomenal supports; truth is not found in dream, māyā-like appearances, transient clouds, or the perishable body.

Vedantic Theme: Viveka between satya (unchanging) and asat/anitya (changing); dehābhimāna-tyāga leading toward ātma-jñāna.

Application: Daily reflection on impermanence (body, moods, possessions) to reduce clinging; use as a meditation prompt before japa or self-inquiry.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.6.104-107 (avidyā-karmotpatti; inner light experience)

Characters & Entities

• Indra (as Indra-jala metaphor)
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of impermanence in the Garuda Purana?

This verse stresses that the body and worldly experiences are as unstable as dreams and illusions, encouraging detachment and preparation for the soul’s post-death journey.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By declaring the body unreliable and transient, it redirects attention to the enduring consequences of karma and dharma that follow the jiva beyond death, a key theme of the Preta Kanda.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate steadiness through dharma, reduce attachment to bodily identity and fleeting pleasures, and live with death-awareness—prioritizing ethical conduct, charity, and spiritual practice.