Shloka 13

Mukti-tattva Upadeśa: Knowledge as the Direct Cause of Liberation

Devanagari script

चतुरशीतिलक्षेषु शरीरेषु शरीरिणाम् / न मानुषं विनान्यत्र तत्त्वज्ञानन्तु लभ्यते

Transliteration

caturaśītilakṣeṣu śarīreṣu śarīriṇām / na mānuṣaṃ vinānyatra tattvajñānantu labhyate

Translation

Unter den vierundachtzig Lakhs (84 Millionen) Körperformen der verkörperten Wesen wird wahres Wirklichkeitswissen (tattva-jñāna) nirgends erlangt außer in einer menschlichen Geburt.

Word by Word

• चतुरशीतिलक्षेषु: among eighty-four lakhs
• चतुरशीतिलक्षेषु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुरशीति-लक्ष (प्रातिपदिक; चतुरशीति + लक्ष)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), बहुवचन; षष्ठी/तत्पुरुषसमासः (चतुरशीतिः लक्षाणि = 84 lakhs)

• शरीरेषु: in bodies
• शरीरेषु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन

• शरीरिणाम्: of embodied beings
• शरीरिणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरीरिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; negation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation)

• मानुषम्: human (birth/body)
• मानुषम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण; implied locus/exception)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मानुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; ‘human (state/body)’

• विना: without
• विना: Apavāda (अपवाद/वियोग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विना (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अपवाद/वियोगार्थ (preposition-like: ‘without’), सामान्यतः तृतीया/द्वितीयासह

• अन्यत्र: elsewhere
• अन्यत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, देशवाचक (locative adverb: ‘elsewhere’)

• तत्त्वज्ञानम्: knowledge of reality
• तत्त्वज्ञानम्: Karta (कर्ता; of passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत्त्व-ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक; तत्त्व + ज्ञान)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (तत्त्वस्य ज्ञानम्)

• तु: indeed; but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधान/विरोधार्थ (emphatic/contrastive particle)

• लभ्यते: is obtained
• लभ्यते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive sense: ‘is obtained’)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Among 84 lakhs of embodied forms, tattva-jnana is attainable only in human birth.

Vedantic Theme: Human embodiment as adhikara for inquiry (jijnasa) and discrimination leading to liberation.

Application: Treat human life as a rare chance for study, reflection, and disciplined practice aimed at realization.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.49.14 (human birth rare, gained by merit); Garuda Purana 2.49.12 (jnani attains moksha)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda

FAQs

Why is human birth considered crucial in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that among the many embodied forms, only human life provides the capacity to attain tattva-jñāna—clear insight into ultimate reality—making it uniquely suited for liberation-oriented practice.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey through many births?

By referencing the ‘eighty-four lakhs’ of bodies, it implies transmigration through many forms; the human state is highlighted as the decisive opportunity where true discernment and spiritual realization can arise.

What is a practical application of this teaching today?

Use human life deliberately: cultivate ethics (dharma), self-discipline, and study/meditation aimed at understanding the Self and reality, rather than living only for instinctive pleasures.