Shloka 51

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

Devanagari script

वैश्यवृत्त्या सदा जीवन्कुटुम्बपरिपालकः / गवां शुश्रूषको नित्यं ब्राह्मणानाञ्च पूजकः

Transliteration

vaiśyavṛttyā sadā jīvankuṭumbaparipālakaḥ / gavāṃ śuśrūṣako nityaṃ brāhmaṇānāñca pūjakaḥ

Translation

Stets nach der Lebensweise eines Vaiśya lebend, erhielt und beschützte er seine Familie; unablässig diente er den Rindern und ehrte und verehrte die Brāhmaṇas.

Word by Word

• वैश्यवृत्त्या: by the Vaiśya livelihood
• वैश्यवृत्त्या: Karana (Means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैश्य + वृत्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (singular); तत्पुरुष: वैश्यस्य वृत्तिः (means of livelihood of a Vaiśya)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: नित्यत्ववाचक अव्यय (adverb: always)

• जीवन्: living
• जीवन्: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जीव् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान कृदन्त (Present Active Participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• कुटुम्बपरिपालकः: protector of the family
• कुटुम्बपरिपालकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुटुम्ब + परि-पालक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular); तत्पुरुष: कुटुम्बस्य परिपालकः (protector of family)

• गवाम्: of cows
• गवाम्: Sambandha (Of cows/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (plural)

• शुश्रूषकः: attendant; one who serves
• शुश्रूषकः: Karta (Apposition/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुश्रूषक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)

• नित्यम्: constantly
• नित्यम्: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्यम् (अव्यय)
• Form: नित्यत्ववाचक अव्यय (adverb: constantly)

• ब्राह्मणानाम्: of brāhmaṇas
• ब्राह्मणानाम्: Sambandha (Of brāhmaṇas/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (plural)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• पूजकः: worshipper
• पूजकः: Karta (Apposition/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूजक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Vaiśya-dharma: honest livelihood, protection of dependents, go-sevā, and brāhmaṇa-pūjā as social-sacral reciprocity.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-yoga orientation: performing one’s svadharma with devotion and without greed purifies the mind.

Application: Earn ethically, prioritize family welfare, support agriculture/animal care responsibly, and honor teachers/elders and institutions of learning.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: household and pasture/cowshed (gośālā)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.6.52 (dāna, atithi, agni, gārhasthya)

Characters & Entities

• Vaishya
• Brahmanas
• Cows (Go)

FAQs

What is the importance of Vaiśya-dharma in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames Vaiśya-dharma as righteous livelihood, family maintenance, go-sevā, and honoring Brāhmaṇas—actions that build merit (puṇya) and stabilize one’s karmic course.

How does this verse connect to the soul’s journey after death in the Garuda Purana?

In the Preta-kāṇḍa context, daily dharmic conduct is presented as the foundation of favorable post-death outcomes; disciplined livelihood and service-oriented duties reduce sinful karma that leads to suffering in Yama’s realm.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Earn ethically, care for dependents, support animal welfare (especially cattle care where culturally relevant), and respect learned/spiritual guides through service and charity—turning livelihood into dharma.