Shloka 88

Mukti-tattva Upadeśa: Knowledge as the Direct Cause of Liberation

Devanagari script

नाश्रमः कारणं मुक्तेर्दर्शनानि न कारणम् / तथैव सर्वकर्माणि ज्ञानमेव हि कारणम्

Transliteration

nāśramaḥ kāraṇaṃ mukterdarśanāni na kāraṇam / tathaiva sarvakarmāṇi jñānameva hi kāraṇam

Translation

ليس الآشراما (مرحلة الحياة) سببًا للتحرّر، ولا الدرشَنات (المذاهب الفلسفية) سببًا. وكذلك ليست الأعمال (كارما) سببًا؛ إنما المعرفة وحدها هي السبب الحقّ.

Word by Word

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-अव्यय)

• āśramaḥ: (a) stage/order of life
• āśramaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āśrama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• kāraṇam: cause
• kāraṇam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• mukteḥ: of liberation
• mukteḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mukti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• darśanāni: philosophical systems/views
• darśanāni: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: darśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-अव्यय)

• kāraṇam: cause
• kāraṇam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• tathā: thus/so
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय)

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय)

• sarva-karmāṇi: all actions
• sarva-karmāṇi: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; कर्मधारय-समासः (सर्वाणि कर्माणि)

• jñānam: knowledge
• jñānam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jñāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• eva: alone/indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय)

• hi: for/indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Causal/emphatic particle (हेतौ/निश्चये)

• kāraṇam: cause
• kāraṇam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Neither life-stage, nor philosophical affiliation, nor actions are the direct cause of liberation; knowledge alone is the true cause.

Vedantic Theme: Primacy of jñāna over karma and external roles; liberation as recognition of the Self, not a produced result of action.

Application: Do not postpone inner work waiting for a perfect role, lineage, or system; cultivate discernment, meditation, and self-inquiry now.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.49.87 (jñāna alone gives kaivalya); Garuda Purana 2.49.89 (guru-vākya as the liberating essence)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Moksha
• Ashrama
• Darshana
• Jnana
• Karma

FAQs

What is the importance of jñāna (knowledge) in the Garuda Purana for liberation?

This verse states that liberation is not produced by social stage, philosophical affiliation, or actions; it is gained through jñāna alone—inner realization of truth.

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

While the Garuda Purana details after-death states and ritual supports, this teaching emphasizes that the final release from all such cycles comes from knowledge, not from external identity or mere deeds.

What is a practical application of this wisdom today?

Do your duties and rituals sincerely, but prioritize self-inquiry, ethical purification, and study/meditation aimed at true understanding—since knowledge is presented as the decisive factor for moksha.