Shloka 1

Moksha and Svarga through Dāna, Tīrtha, Nāma-smaraṇa, and Bhāva

Devanagari script

नाम सप्तत्रिंशो ऽध्यायः तार्क्ष्य उवाच / दानतीर्थार्थितं मोक्षं स्वर्गञ्च वद मे प्रभो / केन मोक्षमवाप्नोति केन स्वर्गे वसेच्चिरम्

Transliteration

nāma saptatriṃśo 'dhyāyaḥ tārkṣya uvāca / dānatīrthārthitaṃ mokṣaṃ svargañca vada me prabho / kena mokṣamavāpnoti kena svarge vasecciram

Translation

Siebenunddreißigstes Kapitel. Garuḍa (Tārkṣya) sprach: „O Herr, verkünde mir von Mokṣa und vom Himmel, die durch Dāna (heilige Gabe) und Pilgerfahrt zu den Tīrthas erlangt werden. Wodurch erlangt man Mokṣa, und wodurch verweilt man lange im Himmel?“

Word by Word

• nāma: named
• nāma: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nāman (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb indicating name/identity.

• saptatriṃśaḥ: thirty-seventh
• saptatriṃśaḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saptatriṃśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular. Ordinal number.

• adhyāyaḥ: chapter
• adhyāyaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adhyāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular.

• tārkṣyaḥ: Tarkshya (Garuda)
• tārkṣyaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tārkṣya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular. Patronymic for Garuda.

• uvāca: said / spoke
• uvāca: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Lit Lakara (Perfect), Prathama Purusha, Singular.

• dānatīrthārthitam: sought/requested regarding charity and tirthas
• dānatīrthārthitam: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dānatīrthārthita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular. 'Sought through charity and pilgrimage'.

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

• svargam: heaven
• svargam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svarga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular.

• ca: and
• ca: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction.

• vada: tell / speak
• vada: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vad (धातु)
• Form: Lot Lakara (Imperative), Madhyama Purusha, Singular.

• me: to me
• me: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dative/Genitive, Singular.

• prabho: O Lord
• prabho: Sambodhana (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (Sambodhana), Singular.

• kena: by what (means)
• kena: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter/Masc, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular.

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

• avāpnoti: attains
• avāpnoti: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: avāp (ava + āp) (धातु)
• Form: Lat Lakara (Present), Prathama Purusha, Singular.

• svarge: in heaven
• svarge: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svarga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular.

• vaset: would dwell / should dwell
• vaset: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vas (धातु)
• Form: Vidhilin Lakara (Potential), Prathama Purusha, Singular.

• ciram: for a long time
• ciram: Adhikarana (Time/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: cira (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb of time.

Speaker

Garuda (Tārkṣya, Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Inquiry into the causal means (sādhana) for mokṣa and prolonged residence in svarga, especially via dāna and tīrtha.

Vedantic Theme: Sādhana-catuṣṭaya orientation: right means and right ends; distinction between finite heavenly merit and liberation.

Application: Use pilgrimage/charity as disciplined practice, but evaluate goals: cultivate devotion and knowledge alongside merit-seeking to orient toward liberation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: dialogue setting (Garuda–Lord)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.38 (chapter opening; sets up answers on mokṣa/svarga); Garuda Purana 2.37 (preceding dāna-vidhi)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Lord Vishnu
• Moksha
• Svarga
• Dana
• Tirtha

FAQs

What is the importance of dāna and tīrtha in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames charity (dāna) and pilgrimage (tīrtha) as key merit-producing disciplines and asks how they relate to two goals: liberation (mokṣa) and heavenly enjoyment (svarga).

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

It introduces the central afterlife concern of the Preta Kanda: which actions lead to higher post-death destinations (svarga) and which lead beyond all destinations to mokṣa.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice intentional giving and sacred observances with a clear aim—purifying motives and aligning actions with dharma—rather than treating rituals as merely transactional.