Shloka 87

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

Devanagari script

प्रावृट्काले मम गृहे स्थितानां भाग्ययोगतः / शुश्रूषणानुवृत्त्या च प्रश्रयेण दमेन च

Transliteration

prāvṛṭkāle mama gṛhe sthitānāṃ bhāgyayogataḥ / śuśrūṣaṇānuvṛttyā ca praśrayeṇa damena ca

Translation

മഴക്കാലത്ത് ഭാഗ്യവശാൽ എന്റെ വീട്ടിൽ താമസിച്ചവരെ, ശ്രദ്ധയോടെ ശുശ്രൂഷിക്കുകയും അനുസരിക്കുകയും വിനയവും ദമവും (ഇന്ദ്രിയനിയമം) പാലിക്കുകയും ചെയ്തതിലൂടെ എനിക്ക് പുണ്യം ലഭിച്ചു।

Word by Word

• प्रावृट्-काले: in the rainy season
• प्रावृट्-काले: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रावृट् (प्रातिपदिक) + काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (प्रावृटः कालः)

• मम: my
• मम: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• गृहे: in (the) house
• गृहे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• स्थितानाम्: of those staying
• स्थितानाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्थित (कृदन्त; √स्था)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (Past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; 'स्थित' = 'staying'

• भाग्य-योगतः: due to good fortune
• भाग्य-योगतः: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भाग्य (प्रातिपदिक) + योग (प्रातिपदिक) + तः (तसिल्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverbial), तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषाधारित (भाग्यस्य योगः)

• शुश्रूषण-अनुवृत्त्या: by service and obedience
• शुश्रूषण-अनुवृत्त्या: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुश्रूषण (प्रातिपदिक) + अनुवृत्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (शुश्रूषणा च अनुवृत्तिः च)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• प्रश्रयेण: by humility, respect
• प्रश्रयेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रश्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• दमेन: by self-control
• दमेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Service (śuśrūṣā), obedience to guidance (anuvṛtti), humility (praśraya), and self-restraint (dama) toward those who stay as guests/saints generate merit and inner refinement.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-yoga: selfless service purifies ego (ahaṅkāra) and prepares the mind for devotion/knowledge.

Application: Practice hospitality and service without pride; cultivate humility and restraint especially in close quarters and stressful seasons.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: household

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.6.86 (mahat-saṅga); Garuda Purana 2.6.83 (steadiness through virtuous company)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of service (śuśrūṣā) in Garuda Purana?

This verse links merit to śuśrūṣā—attentive, respectful service—showing that sincere conduct in a household setting becomes a direct cause of spiritual benefit.

How does this verse relate to karma and one’s post-death journey?

By emphasizing humility, obedience to dharma, and self-control, it points to character-based karma: such virtues accumulate merit that supports a favorable destiny beyond death.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice respectful service to elders/guests, maintain humility in relationships, and cultivate daily self-restraint—speech, habits, and desires—so home life itself becomes a path of dharma.