Shloka 4

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

Devanagari script

श्रीकृष्ण उवाच / ब्रह्मपुत्रेण यत् प्रोक्तं राजानं वीरवाहनम्

Transliteration

śrīkṛṣṇa uvāca / brahmaputreṇa yat proktaṃ rājānaṃ vīravāhanam

Translation

శ్రీకృష్ణుడు పలికెను—బ్రహ్మపుత్రుడు రాజు వీరవాహనునికి చెప్పినది…

Word by Word

• श्रीकृष्णः: Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• श्रीकृष्णः: Karta (Speaker/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रीकृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘श्री’ + ‘कृष्ण’ कर्मधारय-समासः (श्रीमान् कृष्णः)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• ब्रह्मपुत्रेण: by Brahmā’s son
• ब्रह्मपुत्रेण: Karaṇa (Agent in passive/Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् + पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (ब्रह्मणः पुत्रः)

• यत्: that which
• यत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक सर्वनाम

• प्रोक्तम्: said/declared
• प्रोक्तम्: Karma (Object complement/कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वच् (धातु) → प्रोक्त (कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘उक्तम्’

• राजानम्: the king
• राजानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• वीरवाहनम्: Vīravāhana (name)
• वीरवाहनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर + वाहन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वीरस्य वाहनम्/यस्य वाहनं वीरः) नामरूपेण

Speaker

Śrī Kṛṣṇa (as narrator/speaker in the Garuda Purana dialogue)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Legitimacy of instruction through guru-paramparā; dharma is conveyed via trustworthy lineage.

Vedantic Theme: Śabda-pramāṇa (scriptural testimony) as a valid means of knowledge for dharma.

Application: Prefer teachings grounded in recognized lineages/textual authority; verify provenance of ritual/dharma claims.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana narrative technique: Kṛṣṇa/teacher cites earlier sages and royal exemplars to ground prescriptions (motif-level)

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• Brahmā
• Brahmā’s son
• King Vīravāhana

FAQs

What is the importance of citing Brahmā’s son in the Garuda Purana?

This verse signals that the upcoming teaching is grounded in an authoritative lineage (a revered teacher speaking to a king), strengthening its scriptural credibility.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: it functions as a narrative introduction, preparing the listener for a teaching—often in the Preta Kanda—about post-death conditions and dharmic guidance.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat guidance on death rites and ethical living as a disciplined tradition: learn from reliable sources and follow practices with reverence and consistency.