Shloka 142

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

Devanagari script

धर्मः स्वल्पो ऽपि नृपते यदि सम्यगुपासितः / द्विजदेवप्रसादेन स याति बहुविस्तरम्

Transliteration

dharmaḥ svalpo 'pi nṛpate yadi samyagupāsitaḥ / dvijadevaprasādena sa yāti bahuvistaram

Translation

اے بادشاہ! اگرچہ دھرم تھوڑا ہی ہو، مگر جب اسے درست طور پر نبھایا جائے تو برہمنوں اور دیوتاؤں کے فضل سے وہ بہت بڑھ کر وسیع ہو جاتا ہے۔

Word by Word

• dharmaḥ: dharma/righteous act
• dharmaḥ: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• svalpaḥ: small
• svalpaḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier of dharmaḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: svalpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle)—“even/also”

• nṛpate: O king
• nṛpate: Sambodhana (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛpati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• yadi: if
• yadi: Sambandha (Condition marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conditional conjunction)—“if”

• samyak: properly
• samyak: Kriya-viseshana (Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: samyak (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)—“properly/rightly”

• upāsitaḥ: practiced/observed
• upāsitaḥ: Karta (Predicate adjective of dharmaḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: upa-√ās (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि भावः—“is practiced/served”

• dvijadevaprasādena: by the grace of Brahmins and gods
• dvijadevaprasādena: Karana (Instrument/cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija + deva + prasāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; समासः—द्विजानां देवानां च प्रसादः/प्रसादेन (by the grace of Brahmins and gods)

• saḥ: it
• saḥ: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम—‘it/he’ (refers to dharmaḥ)

• yāti: goes/attains
• yāti: Kriya (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √yā (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• bahuvistaram: great expansion
• bahuvistaram: Karman (Result/extent attained)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bahu + vistara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—बहु (अधिकः) विस्तरः

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda, addressing a kingly listener as 'nṛpate')

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Even minimal dharma, when correctly practiced, multiplies greatly through the grace of brāhmaṇas and devas.

Vedantic Theme: Saṅga/saṃskāra and anugraha: right performance (samyak) and the role of sattvic association in magnifying merit; dharma as citta-śuddhi.

Application: Do small good deeds consistently and correctly; seek guidance, blessings, and accountability from wise/ethical communities.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: praise of dharma’s protective power and the magnification of merit through proper observance

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Dvija (Brahmins)

FAQs

What is the importance of dharma in Garuda Purana?

This verse states that even a small amount of dharma, if done correctly, can grow greatly—showing dharma as a key source of spiritual merit that supports one’s destiny and beyond-death outcomes.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey after death in Garuda Purana?

In the Preta-kāṇḍa context, merit (puṇya) and right conduct are presented as forces that strengthen one’s post-death passage; properly practiced dharma is said to expand, aided by divine and dvija blessings.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Do even small righteous acts with correctness and reverence—especially ethical living and respectful support of sacred learning/service—because properly performed dharma is taught to multiply in its beneficial results.