Shloka 9

Atma-Jnana as the Direct Means to Moksha: Advaita, Maya, and the Three States

Devanagari script

यज्ञादयो विमुक्तानां निष्कामानां विमुक्तये / अन्तः करणशुद्ध्यर्थमूचुरेवात्र केचन

Transliteration

yajñādayo vimuktānāṃ niṣkāmānāṃ vimuktaye / antaḥ karaṇaśuddhyarthamūcurevātra kecana

Translation

Some teachers declare here that rites such as yajña (sacrifice) are enjoined for the liberation of those who are desireless and already detached—chiefly to purify the inner instrument, the mind and heart.

Word by Word

• यज्ञादयः: sacrifices and the like
• यज्ञादयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; ‘यज्ञ-आदि’ इति समासः (आदिशब्देन समाहारः)

• विमुक्तानाम्: of the liberated
• विमुक्तानाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वि+मुच् (धातु) → विमुक्त (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (सामान्यतः), षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) ‘विमुक्त’

• निष्कामानाम्: of the desireless
• निष्कामानाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निः+काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• विमुक्तये: for liberation
• विमुक्तये: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वि+मुच् (धातु) → विमुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• अन्तःकरणशुद्ध्यर्थम्: for the purpose of purification of the inner organ
• अन्तःकरणशुद्ध्यर्थम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तःकरण (प्रातिपदिक; अन्तः+करण) + शुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘अन्तःकरण-शुद्धि-अर्थ’ = प्रयोजनार्थक-तत्पुरुष (for the purpose of inner-instrument purification)

• ऊचुः: said
• ऊचुः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन

• एव: indeed
• एव: Avyaya (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अवधारणार्थक (emphatic)

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb)

• केचन: some (people)
• केचन: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + चित् (अव्यय-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; अनिश्चितवाचक सर्वनाम (indefinite pronoun)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue instruction to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Niṣkāma-yajña and allied rites are retained as a means to purify the inner instrument, even for the detached, as proximate support for liberation.

Vedantic Theme: Antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi as prerequisite for jñāna-niṣṭhā; karma as sādhana (not as direct mokṣa-kāraṇa).

Application: Perform obligatory duties and worship without desire for results; use ritual as mind-training—reducing rāga-dveṣa and increasing sattva—while orienting toward inquiry and contemplation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Brahma-khaṇḍa) teachings on jñāna, vairāgya, and niṣkāma-karma as preparatory discipline (contextual parallel within the same adhyāya).

FAQs

What is the importance of antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi (inner purification) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that practices like yajña can be meaningful even for desireless seekers because their key role is to cleanse the inner mind-heart, making liberation steady and mature.

Does the Garuda Purana say rituals are only for worldly desires?

No. Here it notes that some authorities accept yajña and similar rites even for the detached, not for gaining pleasures, but to support liberation through inner purification.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform duties or worship without craving results—use disciplined practice (prayer, charity, service, simple rituals) as a tool to refine the mind and reduce ego and restlessness.