Shloka 98

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

Devanagari script

विनश्यत्स्वपि भावेषु न विनश्यति कर्हिचित् / आकाशः सर्वभूतेषु स्थितस्तेजोजले तथा

Transliteration

vinaśyatsvapi bhāveṣu na vinaśyati karhicit / ākāśaḥ sarvabhūteṣu sthitastejojale tathā

Translation

Auch wenn die geschaffenen Dinge vergehen, vergeht dieses feine Prinzip niemals—wie der Raum in allen Wesen gegenwärtig bleibt und wie das Feuerelement auch im Wasser fortbesteht.

Word by Word

• विनश्यत्सु: in (things) perishing
• विनश्यत्सु: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विनश्यत् (कृदन्त, √नश् + वि)
• Form: सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), बहुवचन (Plural); वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (Present active participle) — Locative plural agreeing with 'भावेषु'

• अपि: even/although
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अर्थः—'even/although'

• भावेषु: in entities/states
• भावेषु: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), बहुवचन (Plural)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negation particle)

• विनश्यति: perishes
• विनश्यति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √नश् (धातु) + वि
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• कर्हिचित्: ever/at any time
• कर्हिचित्: Kala-adhikarana (Time/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कर्हिचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal indeclinable), अर्थः—'ever/at any time'

• आकाशः: space/ether
• आकाशः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आकाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular)

• सर्वभूतेषु: in all beings
• सर्वभूतेषु: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), बहुवचन (Plural); समासः—तत्पुरुष (सर्वेषु भूतेषु)

• स्थितः: situated/abiding
• स्थितः: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (Predicate/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्थित (कृदन्त, √स्था)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle) — predicate adjective of 'आकाशः'

• तेजोजले: in fire and water
• तेजोजले: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तेजस् + जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), द्विवचन (Dual); समासः—द्वन्द्व (तेजश्च जले च)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), अर्थः—'thus/likewise'

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue teaching Garuda, Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The imperishable subtle reality persists even when gross created forms perish; like space pervading beings and fire latent within water.

Vedantic Theme: Ātman/Brahman as nitya (eternal), avināśi (indestructible), and all-pervading; distinction of subtle vs. gross (sūkṣma-sthūla viveka).

Application: Meditate on pervasion and continuity: observe change in body/mind while affirming the witnessing principle; cultivate steadiness amid loss and decay.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.6.99 (ātman as nirlepa); Garuda Purana 2.6.102 (world as dream-like; asanga)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of the 'imperishable' teaching in Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes that while physical and changing states perish, the underlying subtle reality that supports experience does not—supporting the Purana’s core after-death framework where the jiva continues beyond bodily death.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

By using examples like space within beings, it indicates continuity: the embodied form ends, but the subtle continuity that carries identity and karmic momentum persists, enabling the post-death journey described in the Preta Kanda.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Live with awareness that actions have enduring consequences beyond bodily change—cultivating dharma, self-control, and mindful conduct rather than attachment to perishable conditions.