Shloka 144
Vṛṣotsarga (Bull-Release Gift): Procedure, Merit, and Narratives on Dharma, Karma, and Liberation
श्रीकृष्ण उवाच / मया ते कथितं पक्षिन् वृषयज्ञः सुविस्तरः / प्राणिनां कर्मनिर्हारं श्रुत्वा पापैः प्रमुच्यते
śrīkṛṣṇa uvāca / mayā te kathitaṃ pakṣin vṛṣayajñaḥ suvistaraḥ / prāṇināṃ karmanirhāraṃ śrutvā pāpaiḥ pramucyate
ശ്രീകൃഷ്ണൻ അരുളിച്ചെയ്തു—ഹേ പക്ഷീ ഗരുഡാ! വൃഷയജ്ഞത്തെ ഞാൻ നിനക്കു വിശദമായി പറഞ്ഞു. ജീവികളുടെ കർമ്മനിർഹാരം ശ്രവിച്ചാൽ പാപങ്ങളിൽ നിന്ന് മോചനം ലഭിക്കുന്നു.
Śrī Kṛṣṇa (Lord Viṣṇu speaking as Kṛṣṇa)
Concept: Śravaṇa (hearing) of karmic ‘nirhāra’—the working-out/discharge of deeds—has pāpa-kṣaya (sin-destroying) efficacy; ritual exposition (vṛṣa-yajña) is linked to moral causality.
Vedantic Theme: Karma-kṣaya through śravaṇa and saṃskāra; knowledge as purifier (jñāna/śravaṇa) supporting dharma and bhakti.
Application: Regularly listen to/recite purāṇic teachings on karma and dharma; use the insight to reform conduct and undertake expiatory/meritorious acts with right intention.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: dialogue setting (Hari–Garuda saṃvāda)
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.6 (vṛṣa-yajña exposition); Garuda Purana sections praising śravaṇa as pāpa-nāśaka
FAQs
In this verse, Vṛṣa-yajña is presented as a dharmic rite taught in detail by Śrī Kṛṣṇa, and its teaching is linked with purification—hearing the doctrine of karma’s settlement is said to free one from sins.
Rather than describing a route, it emphasizes the principle governing the soul’s post-mortem experience: karma is ‘worked out’ (karmanirhāra). Understanding this moral causality is itself described as spiritually purifying.
Study and listen to dharma teachings with attention, and live in a way that reduces harmful actions; the verse highlights śravaṇa (hearing) of karma-doctrine as a means to ethical clarity and inner purification.