Shloka 3

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

Devanagari script

एतन्मे वदनिश्चित्य भक्तानां मोक्षदायक / ब्रूहि कस्मिन् मृते स्वर्गे पुनर्जन्म न विद्यते

Transliteration

etanme vadaniścitya bhaktānāṃ mokṣadāyaka / brūhi kasmin mṛte svarge punarjanma na vidyate

Translation

Sage es mir mit Gewissheit—du Spender der Befreiung für die Bhaktas: Wenn ein Mensch stirbt, in welchem Himmel gibt es keine Wiedergeburt mehr?

Word by Word

• etat: this
• etat: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular.

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

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

• niścitya: having ascertained / definitively
• niścitya: Kriya Visheshana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nir + ci (धातु)
• Form: Lyap Pratyaya (Absolutive/Gerund).

• bhaktānām: of devotees
• bhaktānām: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhakta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural.

• mokṣadāyaka: O Giver of Liberation
• mokṣadāyaka: Sambodhana (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mokṣadāyaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (Sambodhana), Singular. Upapada Tatpurusha.

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

• kasmin: in which (place)
• kasmin: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter/Masc, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular.

• mṛte: when dead / in death
• mṛte: Bhavalakshana (Condition/भावलक्षण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mṛta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular. Used in Sati Saptami (Locative Absolute) or simple locative.

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

• punarjanma: rebirth
• punarjanma: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: punarjanman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular.

• na: not
• na: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle of negation.

• vidyate: exists / is found
• vidyate: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vid (धातु)
• Form: Lat Lakara (Present), Atmanepada, Prathama Purusha, Singular. (Divadi Gana).

Speaker

Garuda (Vinata-putra) addressing Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Distinguishing temporary heavenly merit from the state where punarjanma ceases; seeking the true mokṣa-giving condition for devotees.

Vedantic Theme: Nitya (mokṣa) vs anitya (svarga); liberation as cessation of saṃsāra rather than reward within it.

Application: Cultivate discernment: do not equate svarga with final freedom; seek mokṣa-oriented practices (bhakti, nāma, kṣetra-smaraṇa, renunciation).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Pretakalpa/Dharmakanda): recurring contrast of svarga vs mokṣa; nāma-smaraṇa at death; mokṣa-kṣetra lists (saptapurī).

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu
• Svarga
• Moksha

FAQs

What is the importance of asking about a heaven with no rebirth in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames the key distinction between temporary heavenly enjoyment (svarga) and final liberation (moksha), highlighting the devotee’s aim to transcend repeated birth.

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

It introduces the post-death inquiry: where the soul goes after dying and whether that destination ends the cycle of rebirth—setting up a teaching that true freedom is beyond ordinary svarga.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Prioritize devotion, ethical living, and spiritual practice aimed at liberation rather than only merit for temporary rewards—use rituals and dharma as supports, not as the final goal.