Shloka 20

Jīva-yonis (84 Lakhs), Rarity of Human Birth, Sense-Restraint, Craving, and Śraddhā-based Dharma

Devanagari script

लोहदारुमयैः पाशैः पुमान्बद्धो विमुच्यते / पुत्रदारमयैः पाशैर्नैव बद्धो विमुच्यते

Transliteration

lohadārumayaiḥ pāśaiḥ pumānbaddho vimucyate / putradāramayaiḥ pāśairnaiva baddho vimucyate

Translation

Ein Mann, der mit Fesseln aus Eisen oder Holz gebunden ist, kann befreit werden; doch wer durch Schlingen aus Frau und Kindern gebunden ist, wird keineswegs losgelassen.

Word by Word

• लोहदारुमयैः: by iron-and-wooden
• लोहदारुमयैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लोह (प्रातिपदिक) + दारु (प्रातिपदिक) + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), बहुवचन; ‘मय’ = ‘made of’; विशेषणम् (पाशैः)

• पाशैः: with bonds/ropes
• पाशैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• पुमान्: a man
• पुमान्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुमांस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• बद्धः: bound
• बद्धः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बन्ध् (धातु) + क्त (कृत्)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘bound’

• विमुच्यते: is released
• विमुच्यते: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच् (धातु) उपसर्गः वि-
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (Passive)

• पुत्रदारमयैः: by son-and-wife-made
• पुत्रदारमयैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + दार (प्रातिपदिक) + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (पाशैः)

• पाशैः: with bonds
• पाशैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• न: not
• न: Negation (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात

• एव: indeed/at all
• एव: Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात; ‘just/indeed’

• बद्धः: bound
• बद्धः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बन्ध् (धातु) + क्त (कृत्)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• विमुच्यते: is released
• विमुच्यते: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच् (धातु) उपसर्गः वि-
• Form: लट्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Putra-dāra-pāśa: attachment to family binds more tightly than material chains; inner bondage is harder to break than outer restraint.

Vedantic Theme: Rāga as bondage; liberation requires vairāgya and reorientation to the imperishable (ātman/Brahman/Nārāyaṇa).

Application: Perform family duties without possessiveness; cultivate non-attachment, remembrance, and ethical clarity; prepare for letting-go through spiritual practice.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana vairagya passages contrasting worldly ties with the soul’s solitary journey

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of attachment (moha) in Garuda Purana?

This verse treats attachment to family as a subtler and stronger bondage than physical restraints, implying that liberation requires inner detachment, not merely outward freedom.

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

It indicates that the soul’s suffering and delay in moving toward release is intensified by clinging to spouse and children; mental bonds persist beyond the body and become obstacles on the post-death journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform duties toward family with compassion and responsibility, but reduce possessiveness—cultivate remembrance of dharma, charity, and spiritual practice so relationships do not become binding attachments.