Shloka 2

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

Devanagari script

केन गच्छति तेजस्तु स्वर्लोकात् सत्यलोकतः / मानुष्यं केन लभते नरकेशु निमज्जति

Transliteration

kena gacchati tejastu svarlokāt satyalokataḥ / mānuṣyaṃ kena labhate narakeśu nimajjati

Translation

Wodurch weicht der Glanz der Seele aus Svarga, ja sogar aus Satyaloka? Wodurch erlangt man menschliche Geburt, und wodurch versinkt man in den Höllen?

Word by Word

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

• gacchati: goes / attains
• gacchati: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (धातु)
• Form: Lat Lakara (Present), Prathama Purusha, Singular.

• tejaḥ: lustre / power
• tejaḥ: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tejas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular.

• tu: indeed / but
• tu: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (Emphasis/Contrast).

• svarlokāt: from Svarga Loka
• svarlokāt: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svarloka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular.

• satyalokataḥ: from Satya Loka
• satyalokataḥ: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: satyaloka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Base noun + Tasil suffix (Ablative sense).

• mānuṣyam: human state / humanity
• mānuṣyam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mānuṣya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular.

• labhate: obtains
• labhate: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: labh (धातु)
• Form: Lat Lakara (Present), Atmanepada, Prathama Purusha, Singular.

• narakeṣu: in hells
• narakeṣu: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: naraka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural.

• nimajjati: sinks down / is immersed
• nimajjati: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni + masj (धातु)
• Form: Lat Lakara (Present), Prathama Purusha, Singular.

Speaker

Garuda (Vinata-putra), questioning Lord Vishnu

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Karmic causality governs rise and fall: even svarga/satyaloka radiance can be exhausted; specific causes lead to human rebirth or naraka descent.

Vedantic Theme: Anityatva of lokas and karma-phala; impetus toward seeking the unconditioned (mokṣa) beyond merit-depletion.

Application: Treat success/status as impermanent; cultivate ethical conduct and inner transformation; avoid actions that generate severe suffering; orient practice beyond mere reward-seeking.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: cosmic realms

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.38 (questions anticipating detailed answers on karma, fall from svarga, naraka causes); Garuda Purana Pretakalpa naraka catalogues (later sections listing specific hells and sins; recension-dependent)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu
• Svarga (Svarloka)
• Satyaloka
• Naraka

FAQs

What is the importance of karma as a cause in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames karma as the determining cause behind ascent or fall—whether one departs from higher lokas, gains human birth, or is plunged into naraka.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It presents the soul’s movement across realms (Svarga, Satyaloka, human birth, and hell) as governed by specific causes—implying moral action (puṇya/pāpa) drives the trajectory.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat choices as future destiny-makers: cultivate dharma and restraint to avoid destructive outcomes and to support a higher post-death journey.