Shloka 36

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

Devanagari script

ततो ऽपि सुरसंकाशान्स दृष्ट्वा विस्मितो ऽभवत् / किं स्वप्न उत माया वै मदीयो मानसो भ्रमः

Transliteration

tato 'pi surasaṃkāśānsa dṛṣṭvā vismito 'bhavat / kiṃ svapna uta māyā vai madīyo mānaso bhramaḥ

Translation

Dann, als er Wesen sah, die wie Götter strahlten, geriet er in Staunen und fragte sich: „Ist dies ein Traum, oder wahrhaft Māyā—nur ein Irrtum meines eigenen Geistes?“

Word by Word

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

• अपि: also, even
• अपि: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अप्यर्थे/समुच्चये (indeclinable particle; 'also/even')

• सुर: god, deity
• सुर: Upamana (Standard of comparison/उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (masculine, nominative/accusative, singular)

• संकाशान्: resembling, like
• संकाशान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संकाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन (masculine, accusative plural)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (pronoun; masculine, nominative singular)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दृश् (धातु) → दृष्ट्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive; 'having seen')

• विस्मितः: astonished
• विस्मितः: Karta (Subject complement/कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + स्मि (धातु) → विस्मित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (PPP, masculine, nominative singular)

• अभवत्: became, was
• अभवत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (अनद्यतनभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन (imperfect, 3rd person singular)

• किम्: what?
• किम्: Prashna (Interrogative/प्रश्न)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (pronoun; neuter, nom/acc sg)

• स्वप्नः: a dream
• स्वप्नः: Pratijna (Predicate nominal/प्रत्यय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वप्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (masculine, nominative singular)

• उत: or
• उत: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उत (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थे (indeclinable; 'or')

• माया: illusion, magic
• माया: Pratijna (Predicate nominal/प्रत्यय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (feminine, nominative singular)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चयार्थक/खल्वर्थक (indeclinable emphatic particle)

• मदीयः: my
• मदीयः: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मदीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (masculine, nominative singular)

• मानसः: mental, of the mind
• मानसः: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मानस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (masculine, nominative singular)

• भ्रमः: delusion, error
• भ्रमः: Pratijna (Predicate nominal/प्रत्यय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (masculine, nominative singular)

Speaker

Narrator within the Vishnu–Garuda dialogue (Vishnu describing the preta’s experience to Garuda)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Epistemic humility: extraordinary perception may be dreamlike or māyā; the mind can err—one must inquire into reality beyond appearances.

Vedantic Theme: Māyā and adhyāsa (superimposition); need for viveka between the seen (dṛśya) and the seer (dṛk).

Application: When confronted with dazzling experiences (success, visions, fear), pause and examine: What is stable? What is mind-projection? Cultivate steady awareness and scriptural-guided inquiry.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: visionary/liminal space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: recurring language of māyā and the unreliability of appearances in afterlife visions (contextual parallel)

Characters & Entities

• Devas

FAQs

What is the importance of māyā (illusion) in this Garuda Purana verse?

The verse highlights that the departed being can misread post-death visions as dream or illusion, emphasizing the mind’s tendency to project भ्रम (bhrama) during the soul’s transitional state.

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

It portrays an intermediate experience where the preta encounters radiant, deva-like forms yet remains uncertain of reality—suggesting the journey includes bewildering perceptions shaped by subtle mental impressions.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate clarity and steadiness of mind through dharma and disciplined living, so fear and भ्रम reduce—supporting calm remembrance and right conduct, especially around death-related rites and reflection.