Shloka 92

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

Devanagari script

तिर्यक्त्वं तमसा जन्तुर्वासनानुगतो ऽबुधः / मातुर्लब्ध्वा पुनर्जन्म म्रियते च पुनः पुनः

Transliteration

tiryaktvaṃ tamasā janturvāsanānugato 'budhaḥ / māturlabdhvā punarjanma mriyate ca punaḥ punaḥ

Translation

Dikuasai oleh tamas, makhluk yang jahil—ditarik oleh vāsanā (kesan laten)—jatuh ke keadaan binatang. Setelah memperoleh kelahiran lagi dari seorang ibu, dia mati berulang-ulang, berkali-kali.

Word by Word

• तिर्यक्त्वम्: animal state
• तिर्यक्त्वम्: Gati/Karma (Goal/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिर्यक्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म/गति-लक्ष्य), एकवचन

• तमसा: by tamas
• तमसा: Karana/Hetu (Instrument/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/हेतु), एकवचन

• जन्तुः: the creature
• जन्तुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन्तु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

• वासनानुगतः: following latent impressions
• वासनानुगतः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वासना + अनुगत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (वासनाम् अनुगतः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (जन्तुः)

• अबुधः: ignorant
• अबुधः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अबुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (जन्तुः)

• मातुः: of a mother
• मातुः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• लब्ध्वा: having obtained
• लब्ध्वा: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (अव्ययकृदन्त), ‘having obtained’

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (repetition)

• जन्म: birth
• जन्म: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• म्रियते: dies
• म्रियते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मृ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

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

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (repetition)

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (repetition)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Tamas and vāsanā-driven ignorance propel the jīva into tiryak (animal) birth; repeated embodiment leads to repeated death—saṃsāra’s churn.

Vedantic Theme: Avidyā and vāsanā as seeds of rebirth; tamas as obscuration; impetus toward vairāgya and purification.

Application: Reduce tamas (inertia, intoxication, cruelty) and weaken vāsanās through ethical living, mindful restraint, satsanga, and devotional/meditative practice.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.6.91 (karma-noose; sattva/rajas destinies)

Characters & Entities

• Jantu (embodied being)
• Tamas
• Vasana

FAQs

What is the importance of vāsanā (latent impressions) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that vāsanās propel the jīva’s next state of existence; when dominated by tamas and ignorance, those impressions can lead to lower births and continued repetition of death and rebirth.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

It frames post-death destiny as karmically conditioned: the ignorant being, carried by tamasic tendencies and residual desires, obtains another womb-based birth and returns to the cycle of dying again and again.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Reduce tamas (inertia, heedlessness) through disciplined living and ethical conduct, and purify vāsanās through right action and spiritual practice so the mind does not drag one toward lower, repetitive cycles.