Shloka 10

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

Devanagari script

वसिष्ठ उवाच / धर्मा बहुविधा राजन् वर्ण्यन्ते शास्त्रकोविदैः / सूक्ष्मत्वान्न विजानन्ति कर्ममार्गविमोहिताः

Transliteration

vasiṣṭha uvāca / dharmā bahuvidhā rājan varṇyante śāstrakovidaiḥ / sūkṣmatvānna vijānanti karmamārgavimohitāḥ

Translation

وسِشٹھ نے کہا— اے راجن! شاستر کے ماہرین دھرم کی بہت سی قسمیں بیان کرتے ہیں؛ مگر دھرم کی لطافت کے سبب، کرم مارگ میں فریفتہ لوگ اسے حقیقتاً نہیں سمجھتے۔

Word by Word

• वसिष्ठः: Vasiṣṭha
• वसिष्ठः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसिष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

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

• धर्माः: dharmas, duties
• धर्माः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• बहु-विधाः: of many kinds
• बहु-विधाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक) + विध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; धर्माः विशेषयति

• राजन्: O king
• राजन्: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, संबोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• वर्ण्यन्ते: are described
• वर्ण्यन्ते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वर्ण् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपदम्; कर्मणि-प्रयोगः (are described)

• शास्त्र-कोविदैः: by those skilled in the scriptures
• शास्त्र-कोविदैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शास्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + कोविद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (शास्त्रे कोविदाः); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन

• सूक्ष्मत्वात्: due to subtlety
• सूक्ष्मत्वात्: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूक्ष्मत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; हेत्वर्थे (because of subtlety)

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negation)

• विजानन्ति: understand/know clearly
• विजानन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्; वि-उपसर्गः

• कर्म-मार्ग-विमोहिताः: those deluded about the path of action
• कर्म-मार्ग-विमोहिताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + मार्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + विमोहित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; मुह् धातु)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कर्ममार्गे विमोहिताः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; कर्तृपदं (विजानन्ति)

Speaker

Vasiṣṭha

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dharma is multifaceted and subtle; those fixated on external karma-mārga (mere ritualism) may miss its true intent.

Vedantic Theme: Viveka and sūkṣma-dharma; movement from karma-kāṇḍa fixation toward right understanding (samyag-jñāna as support for right action).

Application: Study dharma with competent guidance; integrate intention, compassion, and context—avoid reducing righteousness to mechanical ritual.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: broader dharma expositions distinguishing outer rites from inner understanding (contextual)

Characters & Entities

• Vasiṣṭha
• King

FAQs

What is the importance of dharma in Garuda Purana?

This verse stresses that dharma has many forms and is subtle; it must be understood through scriptural wisdom, not reduced to mechanical ritual performance.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey and after-death rites?

In the Preta Kanda context, it cautions that while rites (karma-mārga) are important, without grasping dharma’s deeper intent, one may miss the ethical and spiritual foundations that support proper conduct and post-death observances.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Study dharma with discernment, align rituals with right intention, and pair religious duties with ethical living—truthfulness, restraint, and compassion—so practice is not merely external.