Shloka 76

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

Devanagari script

स्नानमात्रेण यत्राशु मुच्यते कर्मबन्धनात् / अन्यान्यपि च तीर्थानि कृतानि कृपया तव

Transliteration

snānamātreṇa yatrāśu mucyate karmabandhanāt / anyānyapi ca tīrthāni kṛtāni kṛpayā tava

Translation

An jenem heiligen Ort wird man schon durch bloßes Baden rasch von den Fesseln des Karma befreit; und viele andere Tīrthas sind ebenfalls durch dein Erbarmen gestiftet worden.

Word by Word

• स्नानमात्रेण: by mere bathing
• स्नानमात्रेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान + मात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; करण (instrument)

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikarana (Locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (relative adverb: where)

• आशु: quickly
• आशु: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आशु (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण अव्यय (adverb)

• मुच्यते: is freed
• मुच्यते: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive)

• कर्मबन्धनात्: from the bondage of karma
• कर्मबन्धनात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्म + बन्धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; अपादान (ablative: from)

• अन्यानि: other
• अन्यानि: Visheshana (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण—तीर्थानि

• अपि: also
• अपि: Nipata (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक अव्यय (particle: also/even)

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

• तीर्थानि: pilgrimage places
• तीर्थानि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; कर्तृपद (passive construction)

• कृतानि: made/created
• कृतानि: Kriya (Participial predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; ‘made/created’—तीर्थानि इति विशेष्येण सह

• कृपया: by compassion
• कृपया: Karana/Hetu (Instrument/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृपा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; करण/हेतु (by/through compassion)

• तव: of you/your
• तव: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; मध्यमपुरुष-सम्बन्ध (genitive: your)

Speaker

Garuda (Vinata-putra), addressing Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Karma-bandha can be loosened through purificatory acts empowered by grace; snāna at a true tīrtha functions as prāyaścitta and inner cleansing.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-kṣaya through śuddhi and anugraha; external rite supports internal transformation toward vairāgya.

Application: When visiting a sacred water-site, bathe with sankalpa for ethical reform; follow with japa, dāna, and a commitment to avoid the actions that created bondage.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: pilgrimage ford/holy bathing place

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.6.73–77 (snāna fruit and the primacy of saintly grace)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu
• Tirthas

FAQs

What is the importance of tīrtha-snana (holy bathing) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that in certain tīrthas, mere bathing can swiftly loosen karmic bondage, highlighting tīrtha-snana as a powerful act of purification supported by divine grace.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey and karmic consequences?

By emphasizing release from karma-bandhana, the verse frames purification as directly affecting the burdens that follow the soul, reducing obstructive karmic residues that shape post-death experience.

What is a practical application of this teaching today?

Undertake pilgrimage and ritual bathing with sincerity, coupled with ethical living, repentance, and charity—treating tīrtha practices as supports for inner reform rather than as mere external acts.