Shloka 15

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

Devanagari script

सोपानभूतं मोक्षस्य मानुष्यं प्राप्य दुर्लभम् / यस्तार यति नात्मानं तस्मात्पापतरो ऽत्र कः

Transliteration

sopānabhūtaṃ mokṣasya mānuṣyaṃ prāpya durlabham / yastāra yati nātmānaṃ tasmātpāpataro 'tra kaḥ

Translation

Die menschliche Geburt—so schwer zu erlangen—ist selbst die Treppe zur Befreiung (mokṣa). Wer wäre also sündiger als der, der sie erlangt und doch sein eigenes Selbst nicht über den Ozean des saṁsāra hinüberführt?

Word by Word

• सोपानभूतम्: serving as a step
• सोपानभूतम्: Karma (कर्म; qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सोपान-भूत (प्रातिपदिक; सोपान + भूत)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; उपमानार्थ-तत्पुरुषः (सोपानं इव भूतम्)

• मोक्षस्य: of liberation
• मोक्षस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• मानुष्यम्: human birth/state
• मानुष्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मानुष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• प्राप्य: having obtained
• प्राप्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-आप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-प्रत्ययान्त (absolutive/gerund) of प्राप्नुयात्/प्राप्नोति; ‘having obtained’

• दुर्लभम्: rare, hard to get
• दुर्लभम्: Karma (कर्म; qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्लभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सम्बन्धबोधक-सर्वनाम

• तारयति: saves; ferries across
• तारयति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तॄ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; causative sense intended ‘causes to cross/saves’ (तारयति)

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

• आत्मानम्: himself
• आत्मानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तस्मात्-इत्यव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः; हेत्वर्थे/तस्मादर्थे (therefore/from that reason)

• पापतरः: more sinful
• पापतरः: Karta (कर्ता; predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पापतर (प्रातिपदिक; पाप + तरप्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तुलनात्मक (comparative)

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, देशवाचक (here)

• कः: who?
• कः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक-सर्वनाम

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Manuṣya-janma is the upāya-bhūta sopāna to mokṣa; neglecting self-crossing (ātma-tāraṇa) is grave adharma.

Vedantic Theme: Durlabha-mānuṣya-janma and viveka leading to mumukṣutva; saṃsāra as an ocean to be crossed by right effort and right knowledge/devotion.

Application: Treat life as a finite window: cultivate daily sādhana (japa, svādhyāya, sat-saṅga), reduce pramāda (spiritual negligence), and set a clear mokṣa-oriented discipline.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Preta-kalpa themes): exhortations on durlabha-mānuṣya-janma and pramāda leading to suffering; Garuda Purana: Vishnu-nāma and bhakti as ferry across saṃsāra (common motif)

Characters & Entities

• Moksha
• Atman
• Samsara

FAQs

What is the importance of human birth in the Garuda Purana?

This verse calls human life a rare “staircase to moksha,” implying it is uniquely suited for conscious dharma, detachment, and spiritual practice leading to liberation.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It frames the soul’s problem as remaining in saṁsāra and teaches that liberation depends on using human life to “cross over” through self-effort, right conduct, and inner awakening.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat time and choices as spiritually consequential: reduce harmful actions, cultivate dharma, study and contemplate, and adopt daily practices that move you toward freedom rather than deeper bondage.