Shloka 53

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

Devanagari script

स्मार्तेन लोकानजयच्छ्रौतेन त हविर्भुजः / कदाचिद्बन्धुभिः साकं कृत्वा तीर्थानि भूरिशः

Transliteration

smārtena lokānajayacchrautena ta havirbhujaḥ / kadācidbandhubhiḥ sākaṃ kṛtvā tīrthāni bhūriśaḥ

Translation

By performing the Smārta rites he won the hearts of the people, and by Śrauta sacrifices he pleased the gods who partake of the oblations. At times, together with his kinsmen, he also visited many sacred tīrthas, holy places of pilgrimage.

Word by Word

• स्मार्तेन: by the smārta (domestic) rite
• स्मार्तेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्मार्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया) एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (instrumental: 'by/with the smārta-rite')

• लोकान्: worlds/people
• लोकान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया) बहुवचनम्

• अजयत्: conquered
• अजयत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जि (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect) प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person) एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• श्रौतेन: by the śrauta (Vedic) rite
• श्रौतेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रौत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया) एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (instrumental: 'by/with the śrauta-rite')

• त: that
• त: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया) एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम (refers to the preceding act/thing)

• हविर्भुजः: the oblation-eaters (gods)
• हविर्भुजः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हविस् + भुज् (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा) बहुवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (havis- 'oblation' + bhuja 'eater')

• कदाचित्: once/sometime
• कदाचित्: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण-काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कदाचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्ययम् (temporal adverb)

• बन्धुभिः: with kinsmen
• बन्धुभिः: Sahakari (Association/सहकारी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बन्धु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया) बहुवचनम्

• साकम्: together with
• साकम्: Sahakari (Association/सहकारी)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साकम् (अव्यय)
• Form: सह-अर्थक-अव्ययम् (indeclinable of accompaniment)

• कृत्वा: having done/visited
• कृत्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्तम् (gerund/absolutive)

• तीर्थानि: pilgrimage places
• तीर्थानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया) बहुवचनम्

• भूरिशः: many times/abundantly
• भूरिशः: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial modifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भूरिशस् (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रकार/परिमाणवाचक-अव्ययम् (adverb: 'abundantly/many times')

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Integration of Smārta duties, Śrauta yajña, and tīrtha-yātrā as a complete dharmic life that benefits society, gods, and self.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-yoga orientation: sanctifying action through śāstra-guided performance, preparing the mind for higher knowledge/bhakti.

Application: Maintain daily/seasonal rites within one’s tradition, support communal worship, and periodically undertake pilgrimage with ethical conduct.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: pilgrimage-circuit

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Pretakalpa/Ācāra sections): praise of dāna, tīrtha, and śrāddha as puṇya-generating acts (general thematic parallel)

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Havirbhujaḥ

FAQs

What is the importance of Smārta and Śrauta rites in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights a twofold dharmic life: Smārta conduct gains social harmony and legitimacy, while Śrauta yajñas sustain the devas through offerings—together forming a complete religious duty.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By emphasizing disciplined ritual life and pilgrimage, the verse implies that merit (puṇya) is accumulated through prescribed duties, shaping one’s favorable condition in the after-death journey described in the Preta Kanda.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain ethical, tradition-aligned daily practices (Smārta), support sacred acts of offering and service (Śrauta in spirit), and periodically undertake meaningful pilgrimages or sacred observances with family.