Shloka 45

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

Devanagari script

अपूर्वमिव पश्यामि सर्वं स्वप्नगतो यथा / राजोवाच / स्वधर्मनिरतो यस्तु हरिभक्तिरतः सदा

Transliteration

apūrvamiva paśyāmi sarvaṃ svapnagato yathā / rājovāca / svadharmanirato yastu haribhaktirataḥ sadā

Translation

എല്ലാം അപൂർവമായി ഞാൻ കാണുന്നു—സ്വപ്നത്തിൽ പ്രവേശിച്ചവനെപ്പോലെ. രാജാവ് പറഞ്ഞു—സ്വധർമ്മത്തിൽ സ്ഥിരനായി, സദാ ഹരിഭക്തിയിൽ ലീനനായവൻ…

Word by Word

• अपूर्वम्: unprecedented/strange
• अपूर्वम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular), विशेषण

• इव: as if/like
• इव: Sambandha (Comparison marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, उपमानार्थक-निपात (particle of comparison: like/as)

• पश्यामि: I see
• पश्यामि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• सर्वम्: everything
• सर्वम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• स्वप्नगतः: gone into a dream / in a dream-state
• स्वप्नगतः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वप्न + गत (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); गत = √गम् (धातु) क्त-प्रत्यय (gone/entered), विशेषण

• यथा: just as
• यथा: Sambandha (Comparative connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, उपमान/प्रकारवाचक (as/just as)

• राजा: the king
• राजा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• स्वधर्मनिरतः: devoted to one’s own duty
• स्वधर्मनिरतः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वधर्म + निरत (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; निरत = √रम् (धातु) क्त-प्रत्यय (engaged/devoted), उपसर्ग: नि-; विशेषण

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन, सम्बन्धवाचक-सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधानार्थक-निपात (particle)

• हरिभक्तिरतः: ever devoted to Hari’s devotion / devoted to Hari
• हरिभक्तिरतः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हरि + भक्तिरत (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; रत = √रम् (धातु) क्त-प्रत्यय (attached/delighted), विशेषण

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriya-visheshana (Temporal/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, कालवाचक-क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of time)

Speaker

The King (Raja)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Steadfastness in one’s svadharma together with constant devotion to Hari is the defining excellence.

Vedantic Theme: Bhakti as purifying sādhana within karma-yoga; dharma performed as īśvara-arpana leading toward śānti.

Application: Maintain daily duty with integrity; add consistent Vishnu remembrance (nāma, pūjā, smaraṇa) to stabilize mind amid uncertainty.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: praise of Hari-bhakti as protector in the post-death journey; Garuda Purana: svadharma and devotion as criteria for honor

Characters & Entities

• Hari

FAQs

What is the importance of svadharma in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights that steadiness in one’s own prescribed duty (svadharma) is a key spiritual anchor, especially when worldly experience feels unstable or dream-like.

How does this verse connect dream-like perception with the soul’s journey?

By describing perception as dream-like, the verse points to the instability of worldly appearances—encouraging reliance on dharma and Hari-bhakti as enduring supports beyond changing states, including the transition at death.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Do your rightful duties with integrity and cultivate regular Vishnu-bhakti (e.g., nama-japa, prayer, sattvic living) so the mind remains steady even in fear, grief, or life’s uncertainty.