Shloka 54

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

Devanagari script

यावदायाति सदनं दृष्टवाल्लोंमशं पथि / दण्डवत्प्रणिपत्याशु कृताञ्जलिपुटं स्थितम्

Transliteration

yāvadāyāti sadanaṃ dṛṣṭavālloṃmaśaṃ pathi / daṇḍavatpraṇipatyāśu kṛtāñjalipuṭaṃ sthitam

Translation

Als er auf dem Weg zu seiner Wohnstatt war und Lomaśa unterwegs erblickte, warf er sich sogleich in daṇḍavat‑Ehrerbietung zu Boden und stand dann mit gefalteten Händen in Verehrung da.

Word by Word

• यावत्: until/as long as
• यावत्: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण-काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यावत् (अव्यय)
• Form: परिमाण/अवधिवाचक-अव्ययम् (correlative: 'as long as/until')

• आयाति: comes/arrives
• आयाति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु) + आ (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लट् (Present) प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person) एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• सदनम्: to the dwelling/house
• सदनम्: Karma (Goal as object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया) एकवचनम्

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्तम् (gerund/absolutive)

• लोमशम्: Lomaśa (the sage)
• लोमशम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोमश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया) एकवचनम्; (ऋषिनाम)

• पथि: on the path
• पथि: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पथिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी) एकवचनम्

• दण्डवत्: prostrate (like a staff)
• दण्डवत्: Kriya-visheshana (Manner/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दण्डवत् (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानवाचक-अव्ययम् (adverb: 'like a staff', i.e., prostrate)

• प्रणिपत्य: having bowed down
• प्रणिपत्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पत् (धातु) + नि + प्र (उपसर्ग)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्तम् (gerund/absolutive)

• आशु: quickly
• आशु: Kriya-visheshana (Manner/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आशु (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/शीघ्रतावाचक-अव्ययम् (adverb)

• कृताञ्जलिपुटम्: with hands joined in reverence
• कृताञ्जलिपुटम्: Karma (Object complement/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत + अञ्जलि + पुट (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया) एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्; (कृत-अञ्जलि)-तत्पुरुषः + पुट (hands-cup)

• स्थितम्: stood/remained
• स्थितम्: Kriya (State/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्तम् (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनम् (context: predicate 'stood')

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Proper response to saintly darśana: immediate praṇipāta and añjali as embodied devotion and receptivity to instruction.

Vedantic Theme: Satsaṅga as a catalyst for inner purification; humility (amanitva) as a prerequisite for wisdom.

Application: Cultivate respectful conduct toward teachers/elders; pause worldly momentum to honor spiritual presence and listen.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: roadside encounter

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: recurring emphasis on honoring brāhmaṇas/ṛṣis and the merit of satsaṅga (general thematic parallel)

Characters & Entities

• Lomaśa

FAQs

What is the importance of honoring sages (rishis) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights that meeting a rishi on one’s path calls for immediate humility and reverence, implying that respect for dharma and holy persons is a protective, merit-generating conduct.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana?

Within the journey narrative, it shows that encounters on the path are spiritually consequential; the traveler responds correctly by prostration and folded hands, indicating that right conduct continues even during transitional journeys.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate humility and respect toward teachers, elders, and genuine spiritual guides; simple gestures of reverence and disciplined conduct reinforce dharmic character in daily life.