Shloka 16

Means to Liberation: Supremacy of Hari, Proper Salutations, and Purāṇic Authority

Devanagari script

मुक्तिसाधनभूतं च ब्रूहि तत्त्वविनिर्णयम् / सूत उवाच / शृणुध्वमृष्यः सर्वे हरिं तत्त्वविनिर्णयम्

Transliteration

muktisādhanabhūtaṃ ca brūhi tattvavinirṇayam / sūta uvāca / śṛṇudhvamṛṣyaḥ sarve hariṃ tattvavinirṇayam

Translation

„Lehre auch die entscheidende Erkenntnis der Wirklichkeit, die als Mittel zur Befreiung dient.“ Sūta sprach: „O ṛṣis, hört alle die Wahrheitsbestimmung Haris.“

Word by Word

• मुक्ति-साधन-भूतम्: that which is a means to liberation
• मुक्ति-साधन-भूतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + साधन (प्रातिपदिक) + भूत (कृदन्त, भू धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (acc. sg. neut.)

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

• ब्रूहि: tell (you)
• ब्रूहि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तत्त्व-विनिर्णयम्: the ascertainment of truth
• तत्त्व-विनिर्णयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक) + विनिर्णय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (acc. sg.)

• सूतः: Sūta
• सूतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (nom. sg.)

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

• शृणुध्वम्: listen (you all)
• शृणुध्वम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद

• ऋष्यः: O sages
• ऋष्यः: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Addressed)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (nom. pl.)

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Addressed)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (nom. pl.)

• हरिम्: Hari (Viṣṇu)
• हरिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (acc. sg.)

• तत्त्व-विनिर्णयम्: the ascertainment of truth
• तत्त्व-विनिर्णयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक) + विनिर्णय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (acc. sg.)

Speaker

Sūta

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Tattva-vinirṇaya—decisive discernment of reality—as a sādhana for liberation; śravaṇa (listening) as the entry point.

Vedantic Theme: Śravaṇa–manana–nididhyāsana trajectory; knowledge of tattva leading to freedom, with Hari as the ultimate ground of truth.

Application: Adopt disciplined listening to authentic teachings; seek clarity on fundamentals (self, God, karma, impermanence) rather than only ritual detail.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: forest-āśrama/sattra

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.1.15 (question on worship); Garuda Purana 3.1.17 (maṅgalācaraṇa before exposition)

Characters & Entities

• Hari (Vishnu)
• Rishis

FAQs

What is the importance of tattva-vinirṇaya in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames tattva-vinirṇaya—clear determination of ultimate truth—as a direct means (sādhana) to mokṣa, indicating liberation is grounded in right knowledge, not mere ritual alone.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It introduces the liberating path as one of hearing and receiving Hari’s truth-teaching; the soul’s freedom is linked to correct discernment of reality (tattva) that dissolves ignorance.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Prioritize disciplined listening/learning (śravaṇa) of sound spiritual doctrine, and use it to refine values and conduct—so daily choices align with liberation-oriented clarity rather than confusion.