Shloka 102

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

Devanagari script

अतो ऽहङ्कारमुत्सृज्य सानुबन्धे कलेवरे / चरेदसंगो लोकेषु स्वप्नप्रायेषु निर्ममः

Transliteration

ato 'haṅkāramutsṛjya sānubandhe kalevare / caredasaṃgo lokeṣu svapnaprāyeṣu nirmamaḥ

Translation

ਇਸ ਲਈ ਆਸਕਤੀਆਂ ਨਾਲ ਜੁੜੇ ਸਰੀਰ ਵਿੱਚੋਂ ਅਹੰਕਾਰ ਛੱਡ ਕੇ, ਸੁਪਨੇ ਵਰਗੇ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਨਿਰਮਮ ਹੋ ਕੇ, ਅਸੰਗ ਭਾਵ ਨਾਲ ਵਿਚਰਨਾ ਚਾਹੀਦਾ ਹੈ।

Word by Word

• अतः: therefore
• अतः: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतः (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतुवाचक-अव्यय (causal adverb) — 'therefore/from this'

• अहङ्कारम्: egoism
• अहङ्कारम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहङ्कार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular)

• उत्सृज्य: having abandoned
• उत्सृज्य: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √सृज् (धातु) + उत्
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive) — 'having abandoned'

• सानुबन्धे: in (the body) with attachments/consequences
• सानुबन्धे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + अनुबन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—तत्पुरुष ('अनुबन्धेन सह')

• कलेवरे: in the body
• कलेवरे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कलेवर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन (Singular)

• चरेत्: should live/move about
• चरेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद; अर्थः—'should move/live'

• असङ्गः: unattached
• असङ्गः: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (Predicate/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: असङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (of implied person)

• लोकेषु: in the worlds/among people
• लोकेषु: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), बहुवचन (Plural)

• स्वप्नप्रायेषु: in (things) that are dream-like
• स्वप्नप्रायेषु: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वप्न + प्राय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), बहुवचन (Plural); समासः—तत्पुरुष ('स्वप्नवत् प्रायः' = dream-like)

• निर्ममः: without 'mine'-ness
• निर्ममः: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (Predicate/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्मम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण — 'without possessiveness'

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Abandon ego-identification with the attachment-bound body; live unattached in the worlds, regarding them as dream-like, free from possessiveness.

Vedantic Theme: Ahaṅkāra-nivṛtti, asanga, and jagat-mithyā-like contemplation (svapna-upamā) leading to freedom; jīvanmukti orientation.

Application: Practice ‘mine-not’ (nirmamatva): simplify possessions, reduce identity-fusion with roles; contemplative reframing of experiences as transient; mindful action without clinging to outcomes.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vairagya

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.6.98 (imperishable subtle principle); Garuda Purana 2.6.99 (ātman nirlepa); Garuda Purana 2.6.101 (desirelessness as fruit)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of abandoning ahankara in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames ahankara (ego-identification) with the body and its attachments as the key bondage; dropping it enables an unattached life that supports liberation rather than continued entanglement.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By treating worldly experience as dream-like and releasing ‘mine’-ness, the soul avoids clinging that fuels karmic continuity; the teaching points toward disidentification from the perishable body and its bonds.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice reducing possessiveness and identity-based reactions—serve duties without clinging to outcomes, remember the body’s impermanence, and cultivate inner detachment while living ethically in society.