Shloka 96

Śrāddha as Trans-realm Nourishment; Pitṛ-Conveyance; Piṇḍa-born Body and the ātivāhika; Bhakti-based Release

Devanagari script

विमुच्य निर्ममः शान्तो ब्रह्मभूयाय कल्पते / अतः परं नृणां कृत्यं नास्ति कश्यपनन्दन

Transliteration

vimucya nirmamaḥ śānto brahmabhūyāya kalpate / ataḥ paraṃ nṛṇāṃ kṛtyaṃ nāsti kaśyapanandana

Translation

Wenn man alle Bindungen abstreift, frei wird vom Gefühl des „Mein“ und in Frieden verweilt, wird man tauglich für den Brahman-Zustand (brahmabhūya), die Vereinigung mit Brahman. Darüber hinaus, o Sohn des Kaśyapa, gibt es für Menschen keine höhere Pflicht.

Word by Word

• विमुच्य: having abandoned/released
• विमुच्य: Purva-kala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वि-मुच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); अव्ययभावः; ‘विमोच्य/त्यक्त्वा’ अर्थे

• निर्ममः: free from possessiveness
• निर्ममः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्मम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘ममत्वरहितः’

• शान्तः: peaceful
• शान्तः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (निर्ममः इत्यस्य सहविशेषण)

• ब्रह्मभूयाय: for Brahmanhood (state of Brahman)
• ब्रह्मभूयाय: Sampradana (Recipient/Goal/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्म (प्रातिपदिक) + भूय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; ‘ब्रह्मभूय’ = ब्रह्मत्वम् (state of being Brahman)

• कल्पते: becomes fit / is suited
• कल्पते: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कॢप् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘समर्थो भवति/योग्यो भवति’

• अतः: therefore
• अतः: Sambandha (Logical connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थक/तस्मात्-अर्थे (therefore)

• परम्: beyond/other than this
• परम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययप्रयोगः; ‘अधिकम्/अन्यत्’ अर्थे (as an adverbial accusative)

• नृणाम्: of men
• नृणाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• कृत्यम्: duty/what is to be done
• कृत्यम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (नास्ति इत्यस्य कर्तृस्थानीयं)

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negation particle)

• अस्ति: exists/is
• अस्ति: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• कश्यपनन्दन: O son of Kaśyapa
• कश्यपनन्दन: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कश्यप (प्रातिपदिक) + नन्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; ‘कश्यपस्य नन्दनः’ इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (addressing Garuda, Kaśyapa-nandana)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Non-attachment and freedom from possessiveness lead to peace and fitness for Brahman-realization; no higher human duty exists beyond this.

Vedantic Theme: Brahma-sakshatkara-yogyata through shama (peace) and nirmamatva; paramapurushartha as moksha.

Application: Train ‘not-mine’ perception toward body, roles, and possessions; cultivate shanti via meditation, ethical restraint, and simplifying life; prioritize liberation as life’s apex aim.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.10.95 (dhyana-vairagya and abandonment of inner foes); Garuda Purana 2.11.1–2.11.3 (transition to existential inquiry about death and post-mortem journey, framed by the highest duty)

Characters & Entities

• Brahman
• Kashyapa
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of detachment (nirmama) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents detachment from ‘mine-ness’ as a direct qualification for Brahman-realization, implying that inner renunciation is the highest purifier beyond external obligations.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It describes liberation as arising from releasing attachment and resting in tranquility, culminating in brahmabhūya—identity with Brahman—rather than continued bondage driven by possessiveness.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Reduce clinging to possessions and ego-claims, cultivate calmness through ethical living and contemplation, and treat spiritual freedom as a primary life goal alongside duties.