Shloka 85

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

Devanagari script

नारदो ऽकथयन्मह्यं स्ववृत्तगतजन्मनः / नारद उवाच / कस्यचिद्द्विजमुख्यस्य दासीपुत्त्रः पुरा मुने

Transliteration

nārado 'kathayanmahyaṃ svavṛttagatajanmanaḥ / nārada uvāca / kasyaciddvijamukhyasya dāsīputtraḥ purā mune

Translation

نارد نے مجھے اپنے ہی کردار سے وابستہ ایک جنم کا حال سنایا۔ نارد نے کہا—اے مُنی، قدیم زمانے میں کسی برگزیدہ برہمن کے ہاں ایک داسی کا بیٹا تھا۔

Word by Word

• नारदः: Narada
• नारदः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अकथयत्: told, narrated
• अकथयत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथ् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• मह्यम्: to me
• मह्यम्: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (सम्प्रदान), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• स्व-वृत्त-गत-जन्मनः: of (one) whose birth was connected with his own past conduct
• स्व-वृत्त-गत-जन्मनः: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + वृत्त (प्रातिपदिक) + गत (कृदन्त; √गम्) + जन्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (जन्मन्), षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (स्ववृत्ते गतं जन्म यस्य/स्ववृत्तगतं जन्म)

• नारदः: Narada
• नारदः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; वक्तृ-निर्देश (उवाच इत्यस्य कर्ता)

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

• कस्यचित्: of a certain
• कस्यचित्: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अनिश्चित-सर्वनाम (indefinite pronoun)

• द्विज-मुख्यस्य: of a foremost Brahmin
• द्विज-मुख्यस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक) + मुख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (मुख्यः द्विजः)

• दासी-पुत्त्रः: son of a maidservant
• दासी-पुत्त्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दासी (प्रातिपदिक) + पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (दास्याः पुत्रः)

• पुरा: formerly, once
• पुरा: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), कालवाचक

• मुने: O sage
• मुने: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Narada (as indicated by “नारद उवाच”)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: One’s birth and life-situation are connected to conduct (vṛtta/karma); the narrative will illustrate transformation despite humble origins.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-vāsanā shaping embodiment; possibility of uplift through saṃskāra and satsanga beyond jāti-based limitations.

Application: Do not fatalistically identify with origin; focus on present conduct and seek elevating influences that reshape destiny.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.6.86 (training and mahat-saṅga); Garuda Purana 2.6.84 (itihāsa promised for conviction)

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Dvija (Brahmin)
• Dasi (maidservant)

FAQs

What is the importance of karma (conduct) in this Garuda Purana verse?

The verse explicitly links “birth” to “one’s own conduct” (svavṛtta-gata-janma), setting up a teaching that actions and choices shape future circumstances and embodiment.

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

By introducing a karmic backstory about birth, it frames the broader Preta Kanda theme: the post-death journey and experiences are conditioned by prior deeds, which also determine rebirth and status.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat ethical conduct as spiritually consequential: personal choices shape future outcomes, so cultivate dharma—truthfulness, restraint, and responsibility—rather than relying on status or birth alone.