Shloka 104

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

Devanagari script

अविद्याकर्मजनितं दृश्यमानं चरा चरम् / ज्ञात्वाचारवशी योगी ततः सिद्धिमवाप्स्यसि

Transliteration

avidyākarmajanitaṃ dṛśyamānaṃ carā caram / jñātvācāravaśī yogī tataḥ siddhimavāpsyasi

Translation

Erkenne, dass die sichtbare Welt—das Bewegte und das Unbewegte—aus Unwissenheit (avidyā) und aus Karma entsteht; der Yogi, durch rechte Lebensführung (ācāra) gezügelt, wird dann Siddhi, die geistige Vollendung, erlangen.

Word by Word

• अविद्याकर्मजनितम्: produced from ignorance and karma
• अविद्याकर्मजनितम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अविद्या (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + जनित (कृदन्त; √जन्)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (अविद्या-कर्म-जनित = born of ignorance and action); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त)

• दृश्यमानम्: visible, appearing
• दृश्यमानम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √दृश् (धातु) + शानच् (वर्तमानकृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शानच्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोगार्थ (being seen/appearing)

• चर: moving
• चर: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• अचरम्: non-moving
• अचरम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अचर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• ज्ञात्वा: having known
• ज्ञात्वा: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial to main action/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund): having known

• आचारवशी: disciplined, under the control of right conduct
• आचारवशी: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आचार (प्रातिपदिक) + वशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (आचारस्य वशी = controlled by conduct/discipline); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• योगी: a yogin
• योगी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb): “then/thereafter/from that”

• सिद्धिम्: attainment, success (siddhi)
• सिद्धिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• अवाप्स्यसि: you will attain
• अवाप्स्यसि: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ava-√आप् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future/भविष्यत्), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda, Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The manifest world (cara-acara) is produced by avidyā and karma; the yogin restrained by right conduct (ācāra-vaśī) attains siddhi.

Vedantic Theme: Avidyā as root of saṃsāra; karma as perpetuating cause; purification through ācāra leading to yoga-siddhi and readiness for ātma-jñāna.

Application: Adopt yama-niyama-like conduct (truthfulness, non-harm, moderation), observe karma’s consequences, and practice meditation with ethical restraint as the stabilizing base.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.6.103 (impermanence prompt); Garuda Purana 2.6.106 (inner light experience as fruit of practice)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Yogin

FAQs

What is the importance of understanding avidyā and karma in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames worldly experience (carācaram) as arising from ignorance and action, so recognizing their role helps one loosen attachment and orient life toward dharma and liberation.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By identifying ignorance and karma as the roots of embodied experience, it implies that the soul’s ongoing journey is propelled by karmic momentum; disciplined conduct and yogic insight are presented as the corrective path.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat daily choices as karma that shapes future experience, cultivate ethical conduct (ācāra), and practice reflection/meditation to reduce ignorance-driven reactions.