Shloka 62

Veṅkaṭeśa-Māhātmya: Varāha Prelude, Descent of Śeṣācala, Svāmipuṣkariṇī and the Network of Tīrthas

with Dāna-Lakṣaṇas

Devanagari script

ज्ञानद्वारा मोक्षमेति नात्र कार्या विचारणा / दधिवामनमूर्तेश्च दानं तत्र सुदुर्लभम्

Transliteration

jñānadvārā mokṣameti nātra kāryā vicāraṇā / dadhivāmanamūrteśca dānaṃ tatra sudurlabham

Translation

Durch das Tor wahrer Erkenntnis gelangt man zur Befreiung (mokṣa)—daran ist nicht zu zweifeln. Doch die Gabe (dāna) an die Gestalt namens Dadhivāmana ist dort überaus selten.

Word by Word

• jñānadvārā: through the door/means of knowledge
• jñānadvārā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jñāna-dvāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); समासः—jñānasya dvāram (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• mokṣam: liberation
• mokṣam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mokṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• eti: attains/goes to
• eti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: i (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• na: no/not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध अव्यय)

• atra: here/in this matter
• atra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atra (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (देश/विषयवाचक अव्यय)

• kāryā: to be done/necessary
• kāryā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kārya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); predicate adjective agreeing with vicāraṇā; ‘to be done’

• vicāraṇā: consideration/deliberation
• vicāraṇā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vicāraṇā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• dadhivāmanamūrteḥ: of the Dadhivāmana form (of the deity)
• dadhivāmanamūrteḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dadhi-vāmana-mūrti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन); समासः—dadhi + vāmana (कर्मधारय) + mūrti (तत्पुरुष)

• ca: and/also
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/particle (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• dānam: gift/charity
• dānam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb of place (देशवाचक अव्यय)

• sudurlabham: very rare/difficult to obtain
• sudurlabham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su-durlabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with dānam; समासः—su + durlabha (उपसर्गपूर्वक)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Mokṣa is attained through jñāna; ritual acts may support but do not replace liberating knowledge.

Vedantic Theme: Jñāna as the direct means (sādhana) for mokṣa; karma/dāna as auxiliary for citta-śuddhi and devotion.

Application: Prioritize śravaṇa–manana–nididhyāsana (study, reflection, contemplation) while maintaining sattvic charity and worship as supportive disciplines.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: kshetra/tīrtha (implied)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana teachings on jñāna and liberation (contextual); Garuda Purana descriptions of Viṣṇu-forms and dāna-vidhi (contextual)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Dadhivāmana

FAQs

What is the importance of jñāna (knowledge) in this Garuda Purana verse?

The verse states that liberation is attained through jñāna itself, presenting knowledge as the decisive “gateway” to moksha and discouraging hesitation or doubt about its efficacy.

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

Within the Preta Kanda setting, it contrasts ultimate liberation (moksha via jñāna) with ritual supports like dāna, indicating that while post-death rites and gifts are valued, freedom from the cycle is fundamentally rooted in liberating insight.

What is a practical application of this teaching today?

Prioritize inner cultivation—study, reflection, and ethical living that matures into spiritual understanding—while also practicing sincere charity; the verse emphasizes that rites are helpful, but lasting freedom depends on true knowledge.