Shloka 39

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

Devanagari script

महत्या च श्रिया युक्तं स्तूयमानं सुवन्दिभिः / राजापि दृष्ट्वा तं विप्रं प्रत्युत्थाय कृताञ्जलिः

Transliteration

mahatyā ca śriyā yuktaṃ stūyamānaṃ suvandibhiḥ / rājāpi dṛṣṭvā taṃ vipraṃ pratyutthāya kṛtāñjaliḥ

Translation

عظیم شان و شوکت سے آراستہ اور عمدہ مدّاحوں کی ثنا میں گھرا ہوا بادشاہ، اُس برہمن کو دیکھتے ہی تعظیم سے کھڑا ہوا اور ہاتھ جوڑ کر سلام کیا۔

Word by Word

• महत्या: with great
• महत्या: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (श्रिया इति)

• च: and
• च: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• श्रिया: with splendor, fortune
• श्रिया: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन

• युक्तम्: endowed, joined
• युक्तम्: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √युज् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (तं/विप्रं प्रति)

• स्तूयमानम्: being praised
• स्तूयमानम्: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √स्तु (धातु) + शानच् (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कर्मणि कृदन्त (शानच्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; ‘being praised’

• सु: well, excellent
• सु: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सु (अव्यय/उपसर्गवत्)
• Form: अव्यय; उपसर्गवत् उपपद (intensifier ‘well/very’)

• वन्दिभिः: by bards/panegyrists
• वन्दिभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन्दिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), बहुवचन

• सुवन्दिभिः: by excellent bards
• सुवन्दिभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु + वन्दिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), बहुवचन; समासः—सु-वन्दिभिः (उत्तमैः वन्दिभिः) कर्मधारय

• राजा: the king
• राजा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/समुच्चयार्थक (also/even)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √दृश् (धातु) + त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• विप्रम्: the brahmin
• विप्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• प्रत्युत्थाय: having risen in greeting
• प्रत्युत्थाय: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति + उत् + √स्था (धातु) + क्त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया; ‘having risen up to greet’

• कृताञ्जलिः: with hands folded
• कृताञ्जलिः: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत + अञ्जलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (राजा); समासः—कृतः अञ्जलिः येन (कृत-अञ्जलि)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: True greatness is shown by honoring spiritual merit; power bows to wisdom and devotion.

Vedantic Theme: Brahma-tejas respected by kshatra-tejas; humility as a purifier of ahankara.

Application: Show respect to teachers, elders, and the virtuous regardless of one’s rank; greet with sincerity, not performance.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: royal court (sabha)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.6.40 (formal worship and offerings); Garuda Purana 2.6.41 (fruitfulness of birth through darshana of Vishnu-bhakta)

Characters & Entities

• Raja
• Vipra
• Vandis (bards)

FAQs

What is the importance of honoring a brāhmaṇa in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents respectful reception—rising and offering folded hands—as a visible marker of dharma, showing that spiritual learning and virtue deserve honor even from kings.

How does this verse relate to the Garuda Purana’s broader teaching on karma and conduct?

By depicting the king’s humility before a virtuous vipra, the text emphasizes that righteous social conduct (satkāra, reverence, self-restraint) supports good karma and a dharmic life.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice respectful greeting and hospitality toward teachers, elders, and spiritually grounded people—standing up, listening attentively, and responding with humility rather than status.