Shloka 81

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

Devanagari script

मोहितं विविधैर्भावैः कर्मणां क्षेत्रमुत्तमम् / शान्तिं यथा समायाति सम्पन्नमिव भूसुर

Transliteration

mohitaṃ vividhairbhāvaiḥ karmaṇāṃ kṣetramuttamam / śāntiṃ yathā samāyāti sampannamiva bhūsura

Translation

O Brāhmaṇa, wenn das höchste Feld der Handlungen durch vielfältige, wechselnde Gemütszustände verblendet wird, gelangt es nur auf rechte Weise zum Frieden — wie etwas, das sich erfüllt und vollendet.

Word by Word

• मोहितम्: deluded, bewildered
• मोहितम्: Predicate/Qualifier (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुह् (धातु) (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (Past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• विविधैः: by various
• विविधैः: Karana (Instrument/Means)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• भावैः: by states/feelings
• भावैः: Karana (Instrument/Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• कर्मणाम्: of actions/deeds
• कर्मणाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• क्षेत्रम्: field, domain
• क्षेत्रम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• उत्तमम्: excellent, best
• उत्तमम्: Predicate/Qualifier (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; क्षेत्रम् इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

• शान्तिम्: peace
• शान्तिम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शान्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• यथा: as, how
• यथा: Discourse/Connector
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमान/प्रकारार्थक (as/how)

• समायाति: attains/comes to
• समायाति: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-या (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सम्पन्नम्: accomplished, fulfilled
• सम्पन्नम्: Predicate/Qualifier (simile term)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-पद् (धातु) (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; उपमानपद-विशेषण

• इव: like
• इव: Discourse/Simile marker
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमावाचक (like/as)

• भूसुर: O brāhmaṇa (earth-god)
• भूसुर: Sambodhana (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूसुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The embodied field of action, when deluded by fluctuating bhāvas, gains peace only through right process—suggesting disciplined practice that brings completion (sampanna).

Vedantic Theme: Kṣetra-kṣetrajña intuition (field and knower); purification of antaḥkaraṇa through right karma and sattvic ordering leading toward śānti.

Application: Use consistent sādhanā (ethical routine, meditation, study) to stabilize shifting moods; treat emotions as states to be regulated, not identities.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (mind/karma purification instructions; śānti as fruit of right method)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Bhusura (Brahmana)

FAQs

What is the importance of mental states (bhāva) in the Garuda Purana’s view of karma?

This verse emphasizes that karma operates through a “field” shaped by fluctuating bhāvas; when delusion (moha) dominates, peace is disturbed, and only proper alignment restores śānti.

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

In Preta Kanda themes, the soul’s post-death experience is conditioned by karma and inner dispositions; the verse highlights that inner bewilderment fuels karmic turbulence, while right order leads toward calm and completion.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate clarity over moha—steady the mind, choose dharmic actions, and reduce reactive emotions—so actions arise from discernment and lead toward lasting peace.