Shloka 35

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

Devanagari script

ततो ऽतितुष्टान्मलिनान्वस्त्रखण्डसमावृतान् / अग्रतो हृष्टपुष्टांश्च स्वर्णवस्त्रोपशोभितान्

Transliteration

tato 'tituṣṭānmalinānvastrakhaṇḍasamāvṛtān / agrato hṛṣṭapuṣṭāṃśca svarṇavastropaśobhitān

Translation

Dann sieht er einige, überaus zufrieden und doch unrein, nur mit Fetzen zerrissener Kleider bedeckt; und weiter vorn andere, froh und wohlgenährt, geschmückt mit goldenen Gewändern.

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपादान/क्रमार्थे (indeclinable adverb; 'then/from there')

• अतितुष्टान्: very pleased
• अतितुष्टान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति + तुष् (धातु) → तुष्ट (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त) + उपसर्ग; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन (PPP; masculine, accusative plural)

• मलिनान्: dirty
• मलिनान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मलिन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन (masculine, accusative plural)

• वस्त्र: cloth, garment
• वस्त्र: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (neuter, nominative/accusative, singular)

• खण्ड: piece, fragment
• खण्ड: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (neuter, nominative/accusative, singular)

• समावृतान्: covered, wrapped
• समावृतान्: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + आ + वृ (धातु) → समावृत (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन (PPP, masculine, accusative plural)

• अग्रतः: in front
• अग्रतः: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अग्रतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशार्थे (indeclinable adverb; 'in front')

• हृष्टान्: joyful
• हृष्टान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हृष् (धातु) → हृष्ट (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन (PPP, masculine, accusative plural)

• पुष्टान्: well-nourished, stout
• पुष्टान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुष्ट (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त) प्रयोगेण विशेषण; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन (PPP used adjectivally; masculine, accusative plural)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (indeclinable conjunction)

• स्वर्ण: gold
• स्वर्ण: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (neuter, nominative/accusative, singular)

• वस्त्र: garment
• वस्त्र: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (neuter, nominative/accusative, singular)

• उपशोभितान्: adorned, beautified
• उपशोभितान्: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उप + शुभ् (धातु) → उपशोभित (कृदन्त)
• Form: णिच्-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन (causative PPP, masculine, accusative plural)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Karmic fruition is diverse and non-linear to ordinary judgment: inner ‘contentment’ may coexist with impurity/poverty; prosperity may accompany joy—both are results of mixed causes.

Vedantic Theme: Complexity of karma (anādi, durjñeya); appearances do not reveal the full causal chain; cultivate equanimity and inquiry.

Application: Avoid judging others by dress/wealth; focus on purifying intention and action; practice humility and steady virtue regardless of circumstance.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: processional path/assembly line

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: mixed karmic results (miśra-phala) shown through differing bodies, garments, and nourishment (contextual parallel)

Characters & Entities

• Pretas
• Yama's realm (implied)

FAQs

What is the importance of contrasting clothing (rags vs golden garments) in Garuda Purana?

It symbolizes karmic contrast: some pretas experience deprivation and impurity, while others enjoy dignity and comfort due to stronger merit (puṇya) and supportive conditions.

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

It presents the soul’s post-death passage as visibly stratified—different beings encountered in the afterlife reflect different karmic states, ranging from want and neglect to joy and adornment.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Live ethically and cultivate merit (charity, truthfulness, restraint), and also support proper remembrance/rites for the departed—both are taught as influencing dignity and well-being in the post-death journey.