Shloka 99

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

Devanagari script

आत्मा सर्वत्र निर्लेपः पार्थिवेषु यथानिलः / भक्तानुकम्पी भगवान् साधूनां रक्षणाय च

Transliteration

ātmā sarvatra nirlepaḥ pārthiveṣu yathānilaḥ / bhaktānukampī bhagavān sādhūnāṃ rakṣaṇāya ca

Translation

ആത്മാവ് സർവ്വത്ര നിർലേപമാണ്; ഭൂതലവസ്തുക്കളിലൂടെ സഞ്ചരിക്കുന്ന വായുവുപോലെ. ഭക്താനുകമ്പിയായ ഭഗവാൻ സാദുക്കളുടെ രക്ഷയ്ക്കായും പ്രവർത്തിക്കുന്നു।

Word by Word

• आत्मा: the Self
• आत्मा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular)

• सर्वत्र: everywhere
• सर्वत्र: Desha-adhikarana (Place/देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb), अर्थः—'everywhere'

• निर्लेपः: unstained/unattached
• निर्लेपः: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (Predicate/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्लेप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण of 'आत्मा'

• पार्थिवेषु: among earthly (things)
• पार्थिवेषु: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), बहुवचन (Plural)

• यथा: as/like
• यथा: Upamana (Comparison/उपमान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानवाचक-अव्यय (comparative indeclinable), अर्थः—'as/like'

• अनिलः: wind
• अनिलः: Upamana (Standard of comparison/उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular)

• भक्तानुकम्पी: compassionate to devotees
• भक्तानुकम्पी: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (Predicate/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्त + अनुकम्पिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—तत्पुरुष (भक्तान् अनुकम्पते इति)

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवान्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular)

• साधूनाम्: of the good (people)
• साधूनाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साधु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन (Plural)

• रक्षणाय: for protection
• रक्षणाय: Sampradana (Purpose/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन (Singular); प्रयोजनार्थ दत्तिव (dative of purpose)

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

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ātman is untouched (nirlepa) like wind among objects; Bhagavān is compassionate to devotees and protects sādhus.

Vedantic Theme: Sākṣī-ātman as asanga; īśvara-anugraha (divine grace) safeguarding dharma; harmony of jñāna (detachment) and bhakti (grace).

Application: Practice non-reactivity amid worldly contact; cultivate devotion and trust (śaraṇāgati) while aligning conduct with sādhutva (righteousness).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.6.101 (bhakti-yoga leading to revelation); Garuda Purana 2.6.102 (asanga; dream-like worlds)

Characters & Entities

• Atman
• Bhagavan
• Sadhus
• Bhaktas

FAQs

What is the importance of the Atman being 'nirlepa' (unstained) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse stresses that the true Self is inherently untouched by material contact—like wind among objects—supporting the Purana’s broader teaching that liberation comes from knowing the Self beyond bodily and post-death conditions.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By distinguishing the unattached Atman from material experience, it implies that suffering and post-death transitions pertain to conditioned existence, while realization of the Self and devotion invite divine support and safety for the righteous.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate detachment from transient gains and losses, and strengthen devotion and ethical conduct (sadhu-dharma); the verse frames these as aligned with divine compassion and protection.