Shloka 31

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

Devanagari script

विभ्रान्तमनसं गृह्य प्रत्यग्जग्मुर्विहायसा / बहुवृक्षसमाकीर्णं गिरिदुर्गभयानकम्

Transliteration

vibhrāntamanasaṃ gṛhya pratyagjagmurvihāyasā / bahuvṛkṣasamākīrṇaṃ giridurgabhayānakam

Translation

Sie packten den, dessen Geist verwirrt war, kehrten durch die Lüfte um und zogen zu einer Bergfeste, furchterregend und dicht von vielen Bäumen überwuchert.

Word by Word

• विभ्रान्तमनसम्: (him) whose mind was bewildered
• विभ्रान्तमनसम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-भ्रान्त-मनस् (प्रातिपदिक; वि + भ्रान्त + मनस्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (singular); विशेषण (object of gṛhya)

• गृह्य: having seized, taking hold
• गृह्य: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), क्रियाविशेषणभाव (having seized/taken)

• प्रत्यक्: back, in return direction
• प्रत्यक्: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रत्यक् (अव्यय/उपसर्गार्थ)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb; back/returnward)

• जग्मुः: went
• जग्मुः: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (plural)

• विहायसा: through the sky; by air
• विहायसा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विहायस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन (singular)

• बहुवृक्षसमाकीर्णम्: filled with many trees
• बहुवृक्षसमाकीर्णम्: Karma (Object complement/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु-वृक्ष-समाकीर्ण (प्रातिपदिक; बहु + वृक्ष + समाकीर्ण)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (singular); विशेषण (of implied place/region)

• गिरिदुर्गभयानकम्: terrifying with mountain-forts/strongholds
• गिरिदुर्गभयानकम्: Karma (Object complement/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गिरि-दुर्ग-भयानक (प्रातिपदिक; गिरि + दुर्ग + भयानक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (singular); विशेषण

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Loss of agency and sudden conveyance suggest karmic compulsion—events ripen beyond personal control when unseen causes mature.

Vedantic Theme: Karma’s prārabdha-like force and the fragility of egoic control; the mind’s भ्रम (vibhrānti) as a source of suffering.

Application: Strengthen inner steadiness (smṛti, japa) so that in crisis the mind does not collapse; cultivate discernment and refuge in dharma/bhakti.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: mountain/fortress

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa motifs of being led/dragged by agents toward fearful destinations (thematic internal resonance)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Messengers (unseen attendants)

FAQs

What is the importance of the 'bewildered mind' (vibhrāntamanas) in the Garuda Purana?

It highlights the disorientation of the departed consciousness when led by unseen forces; the text uses this to stress how karma and post-death guidance shape the soul’s experience.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

It depicts the escorted movement of a confused being through the sky toward a terrifying, forested mountain stronghold—suggesting transitional, fear-inducing stations encountered in the preta-journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate clarity of mind through dharma, prayer, and ethical living, and perform appropriate śrāddha/ancestral rites so the departed is symbolically supported rather than overwhelmed by fear and confusion.