Shloka 116

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

Devanagari script

मोक्षं गच्छन्ति तत्त्वज्ञा धार्मिकाः स्वर्गतिं नराः / पापिनो दुर्गतिं यान्ति संसरन्ति खगादयः

Transliteration

mokṣaṃ gacchanti tattvajñā dhārmikāḥ svargatiṃ narāḥ / pāpino durgatiṃ yānti saṃsaranti khagādayaḥ

Translation

তত্ত্বজ্ঞরা মোক্ষে গমন করেন; ধার্মিক নরগণ স্বর্গগতি লাভ করেন। পাপীরা দুর্গতিতে যায়, আর পক্ষী প্রভৃতি যোনি পুনঃপুনঃ সংসারে ঘুরে বেড়ায়।

Word by Word

• मोक्षम्: liberation
• मोक्षम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• गच्छन्ति: go/attain
• गच्छन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• तत्त्वज्ञाः: knowers of truth
• तत्त्वज्ञाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत्त्व-ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (तत्त्वं जानन्ति इति)

• धार्मिकाः: righteous
• धार्मिकाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धार्मिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (नराः)

• स्वर्गतिम्: the path/state of heaven
• स्वर्गतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग-गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (स्वर्गस्य गतिः)

• नराः: men/people
• नराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• पापिनः: sinners
• पापिनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पापिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• दुर्गतिम्: bad destiny
• दुर्गतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्-गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (दुष्टा गतिः)

• यान्ति: go
• यान्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• संसरन्ति: wander in saṃsāra
• संसरन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-सृ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• खगादयः: birds and others
• खगादयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खग-आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (खगाः आदयः = birds and others)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vainateya)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Svarga

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Destinies differ by inner realization and conduct: tattva-jñāna leads to moksha, dharma to svarga, pāpa to dugati; non-human births indicate continued saṃsāra.

Vedantic Theme: Hierarchy of goals (puruṣārthas): svarga as finite karma-phala; moksha as knowledge-born freedom beyond rebirth.

Application: Prioritize truth-inquiry and ethical living; treat heavenly reward as secondary; avoid actions that generate pāpa and bind one to lower births.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: cosmic realms

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.49.115 (moksha via jnana-vairagya); Garuda Purana 2.49.119 (timing of rebirth: immediate/delayed)

Characters & Entities

• Moksha
• Svarga
• Samsara
• Tattvajna
• Dharma
• Papina
• Khaga

FAQs

What is the importance of moksha and svarga in the Garuda Purana?

This verse distinguishes outcomes: tattva-jñāna leads to moksha (final release), while dharmic living leads to svarga (a meritorious but temporary state).

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

It presents three trajectories based on karma and knowledge: liberation for truth-knowers, heavenly attainment for the righteous, and a painful/low destination for sinners; other embodied beings continue cycling in saṁsāra.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate ethical conduct (dharma), avoid harmful actions (pāpa), and pursue self-knowledge (tattva-jñāna) so one’s post-death trajectory is elevated rather than bound to repeated wandering.