Shloka 9

Ācāra-Nirṇaya: Varṇa-Āśrama Dharma, Śauca, Snāna, Sandhyā, Japa, Tarpaṇa, and Gṛhastha-Dinacaryā

Devanagari script

संसारोच्छित्तिहेतुश्च धर्मादेव प्रवर्तते / धर्मात्सुखं च ज्ञानं च ज्ञानान्मोक्षो ऽधिगम्यते

Transliteration

saṃsārocchittihetuśca dharmādeva pravartate / dharmātsukhaṃ ca jñānaṃ ca jñānānmokṣo 'dhigamyate

Translation

إنّ السبب الذي يقطع رباط السَّمْسارا لا ينبثق إلا من الدارما. ومن الدارما تأتي السعادة والمعرفة الحقّة؛ ومن المعرفة تُنال الموكشا، أي التحرّر.

Word by Word

• संसारोच्छित्तिहेतुः: cause of the cessation of saṃsāra
• संसारोच्छित्तिहेतुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संसार (प्रातिपदिक) + उच्छित्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + हेतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—‘संसारस्य उच्छित्तेः हेतुḥ’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• धर्मात्: from dharma
• धर्मात्: Apadana (Ablative/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/अपादान), एकवचन

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• प्रवर्तते: arises/proceeds
• प्रवर्तते: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वृत् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• धर्मात्: from dharma
• धर्मात्: Apadana (Ablative/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन

• सुखम्: happiness
• सुखम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• ज्ञानम्: knowledge
• ज्ञानम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• ज्ञानात्: from knowledge
• ज्ञानात्: Apadana (Ablative/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन

• मोक्षः: liberation
• मोक्षः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अधिगम्यते: is attained
• अधिगम्यते: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अधि + गम् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dharma initiates the cessation of saṃsāra; dharma yields happiness and knowledge; knowledge culminates in mokṣa.

Vedantic Theme: Progression from karma/dharma to antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi, then jñāna, then mokṣa; jñāna as immediate means to liberation (jñāna-niṣṭhā).

Application: Use dharmic living to purify mind and stabilize life; pursue true knowledge through study and contemplation; orient actions toward inner freedom rather than mere reward.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: mokṣa praised as highest puruṣārtha; dharma as purifier leading to jñāna; Garuda Purana: bhakti/jñāna passages that treat dharma as a stepping-stone

Characters & Entities

• Dharma
• Saṃsāra
• Jñāna
• Mokṣa

FAQs

What is the importance of dharma in the Garuda Purana according to this verse?

This verse states that dharma is the direct foundation for ending saṃsāra, because it produces both well-being and the inner knowledge that culminates in liberation.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul toward liberation?

It presents a clear progression: dharma refines life and conduct, dharma yields jñāna (spiritual discernment), and jñāna becomes the immediate means by which mokṣa is realized.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Live ethically and responsibly (dharma) as a daily discipline; let that integrity support study, reflection, and meditation (jñāna), aiming not only for comfort but for freedom from compulsive attachment.