Shloka 96

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

Devanagari script

मन्थनैः साधनैरेवं परं ज्ञात्वा सुखी भवेत् / आत्मा नित्यो ऽव्ययः सत्यः सर्वगः सर्वभृन्महान्

Transliteration

manthanaiḥ sādhanairevaṃ paraṃ jñātvā sukhī bhavet / ātmā nityo 'vyayaḥ satyaḥ sarvagaḥ sarvabhṛnmahān

Translation

Durch solche disziplinierten Übungen und Sādhana erkennt man das Höchste und wird glücklich. Der Ātman ist ewig, unvergänglich, wahr, allgegenwärtig, Träger von allem und groß.

Word by Word

• मन्थनैः: by churnings; by (repeated) practice
• मन्थनैः: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्थन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन (neuter instrumental plural)

• साधनैः: by means; by disciplines
• साधनैः: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन (neuter instrumental plural)

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial modifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (thus)

• परम्: the Supreme (reality)
• परम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन (neuter accusative singular; as substantive: the Supreme)

• ज्ञात्वा: having known
• ज्ञात्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (Prior action/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having known)

• सुखी: happy
• सुखी: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (Subject complement/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुखिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (masculine nominative singular adjective used predicatively)

• भवेत्: may become
• भवेत्: Kriyā (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (may become)

• आत्मा: the Self
• आत्मा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (masculine nominative singular)

• नित्यः: eternal
• नित्यः: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (masculine nominative singular adjective)

• अव्ययः: imperishable
• अव्ययः: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-व्यय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (masculine nominative singular adjective)

• सत्यः: true; real
• सत्यः: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (masculine nominative singular adjective)

• सर्वगः: all-pervading
• सर्वगः: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (सर्वं गच्छति/सर्वत्र गच्छति) (masculine nominative singular adjective)

• सर्वभृत्: supporter of all
• सर्वभृत्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + भृत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (सर्वं बिभर्ति) (masculine nominative singular adjective)

• महान्: great
• महान्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (विशेषण) (masculine nominative singular adjective)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Through disciplined practices and inquiry, realizing the Supreme brings abiding happiness; the Ātman is eternal, imperishable, real, all-pervading, supporter of all, and great.

Vedantic Theme: Ātman-Brahman ontology: nitya/avyaya/satya; sarvagatatva; ānanda as svarūpa; liberation as knowledge, not acquisition.

Application: Combine steady sādhanā (study, meditation, ethical purification) with contemplation on Ātman’s attributes; use these epithets as nididhyāsana topics.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: mokṣa-oriented passages describing Ātman’s nitya-avyaya nature and the role of sādhanā/manthana

Characters & Entities

• Atman

FAQs

What is the importance of realizing the Atman in Garuda Purana?

This verse states that happiness and peace arise from realizing the Supreme through disciplined practice and inquiry, because the Atman is eternal, real, and beyond decay.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It emphasizes that the true identity is the imperishable Atman—distinct from changing conditions—so liberation-oriented understanding comes through sadhana and deep reflection rather than external change alone.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Combine steady spiritual practice with honest self-inquiry, remembering that the core Self is stable and all-pervading; this supports ethical living and reduces fear of change and death.