Shloka 67

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

Devanagari script

तृणपर्णोदकाहाराः सततं वनवासिनः / जम्बूकाखुमृगाद्याश्च तापसास्ते भवन्ति किम्

Transliteration

tṛṇaparṇodakāhārāḥ satataṃ vanavāsinaḥ / jambūkākhumṛgādyāśca tāpasāste bhavanti kim

Translation

Wenn man stets im Wald lebt und sich von Gras, Blättern und Wasser nährt—werden Schakale, Ratten, Hirsche und dergleichen dadurch zu Asketen (tapasvins)?

Word by Word

• तृण-पर्ण-उदक-आहाराः: those whose food is grass, leaves, and water
• तृण-पर्ण-उदक-आहाराः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तृण (प्रातिपदिक) + पर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + उदक (प्रातिपदिक) + आहार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (आहाराः—तृणपर्णोदकानाम्)

• सततम्: always
• सततम्: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सतत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• वन-वासिनः: forest-dwellers
• वन-वासिनः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक) + वासिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (वने वासिनः)

• जम्बूक-आखु-मृग-आद्याः: jackals, rats, deer, and the like
• जम्बूक-आखु-मृग-आद्याः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जम्बूक (प्रातिपदिक) + आखु (प्रातिपदिक) + मृग (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (आद्याः=प्रमुखाः/आदि-शब्देन)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• तापसाः: ascetics
• तापसाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तापस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• भवन्ति: become/are
• भवन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• किम्: (do they) really?/what then?
• किम्: Prashna (प्रश्न/Interrogative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय-प्रयोगः; प्रश्नार्थक (interrogative particle)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Tapas is not defined by forest residence or minimal diet alone; true asceticism requires conscious restraint, intention, and realization-oriented practice.

Vedantic Theme: Chitta-shuddhi through intentional sadhana; external deprivation without inner transformation is spiritually inert.

Application: Adopt simplicity with mindfulness; pair dietary restraint with meditation, japa, study, and compassion; avoid romanticizing hardship as holiness.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: hasya

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: wilderness/ashrama-forest

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.49.65-66, 2.49.68-69 (same argumentative chain)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• tapasvin (ascetic)

FAQs

What is the importance of true tapas (asceticism) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse stresses that external austerities—forest-dwelling or a sparse diet—do not by themselves make one a tapasvin; genuine tapas implies inner discipline and righteous conduct.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana context?

By rejecting mere outward renunciation, it implies that the soul’s progress after death depends on dharmic living and inner purification, not on appearances of austerity alone.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Adopt simplicity and restraint, but prioritize ethics, self-control, and compassion—otherwise “austere lifestyle” becomes performance rather than spiritual practice.