Shloka 116

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

Devanagari script

मन्ये ऽकिञ्चत्करं सर्वं नीहारसलिलं यथा / वृषोत्सर्गसमं किञ्चित् साधनं न महीतले

Transliteration

manye 'kiñcatkaraṃ sarvaṃ nīhārasalilaṃ yathā / vṛṣotsargasamaṃ kiñcit sādhanaṃ na mahītale

Translation

ఇతర సమస్త సాధనములను నేను స్వల్పఫలములవిగా భావించుచున్నాను—మబ్బు నీటివలె; ఈ భూమిపై వృషోత్సర్గానికి సమానమైన సాధనం మరొకటి లేదు।

Word by Word

• मन्ये: I think
• मन्ये: Kriya (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: man (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, उत्तमपुरुष (1st), एकवचन

• अकिञ्चत्करम्: ineffective, of no avail
• अकिञ्चत्करम्: Karma (Object complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a + kiñcit + kara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—किञ्चित् करोति इति करः; अकिञ्चित्करः = ‘doing nothing/ineffective’

• सर्वम्: everything
• सर्वम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• नीहारसलिलम्: mist and water
• नीहारसलिलम्: Upamāna (Standard of comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nīhāra + salila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; द्वन्द्वः—नीहारः च सलिलं च (as a pair)

• यथा: as, like
• यथा: Upamā-prayojaka (Comparative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (उपमानवाचक)

• वृषोत्सर्गसमम्: equal to bull-release
• वृषोत्सर्गसमम्: Visheshana (Adjectival complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vṛṣa + utsarga + sama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—वृषोत्सर्गेण समम्

• किञ्चित्: anything
• किञ्चित्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kiñcit (अव्यय/सर्वनाम)
• Form: सर्वनाम-शब्द, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘something’

• साधनम्: means, practice
• साधनम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sādhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Nishedha (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (निषेध/negation particle)

• महीतले: on the earth
• महीतले: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahī + tala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—मही-तलम्

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Not all religious efforts yield equal fruit; certain śāstrically praised acts (here vṛṣotsarga) are exceptionally potent compared to diffuse minor practices.

Vedantic Theme: Hierarchy of karmas by sattva and śāstra-prāmāṇya; efficacy tied to intention, object (go-vṛṣa), and dharmic alignment.

Application: Focus on high-impact dharmic actions—generosity, protection of life, and socially sustaining gifts—rather than token practices.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.6.115 (context: omission of vṛṣotsarga); Garuda Purana 2.6.117 (fruit: effortless gati; Aśvamedha-equivalence)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of vṛṣotsarga in the Garuda Purana?

This verse elevates vṛṣotsarga (the ritual gifting/release of a bull) as an unmatched aid among earthly spiritual measures, implying exceptional merit and post-death support.

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

In the Preta Kanda context, the departed is aided by specific rites and gifts; the verse stresses that some acts (like vṛṣotsarga) are considered especially potent supports for the soul’s difficult post-death journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It highlights prioritizing dharmic charity and prescribed ancestral rites with sincerity—supporting tradition-aligned giving rather than relying only on miscellaneous or symbolic efforts.