Shloka 11

Devanagari script

आत्मनः संशयोपायः क्रियते क्षणमन्त्रणात् / स्वमुक्तिहेतुर्न भवत्यसावपि परिग्रहात्

Transliteration

ātmanaḥ saṃśayopāyaḥ kriyate kṣaṇamantraṇāt / svamuktiheturna bhavatyasāvapi parigrahāt

Translation

A moment’s consultation may provide a means to resolve one’s inner doubt; yet even that does not become a cause of one’s liberation, because it remains bound up with attachment and acquisition (parigraha).

Word by Word

• आत्मनः: of oneself
• आत्मनः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (of oneself)

• संशयोपायः: a means regarding doubt; a remedy for doubt
• संशयोपायः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संशय + उपाय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: संशय-उपाय (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: संशयस्य उपायः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• क्रियते: is done; is performed
• क्रियते: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• क्षणमन्त्रणात्: from momentary consultation
• क्षणमन्त्रणात्: Apadana/Hetu (Source/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षण + मन्त्रणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: क्षण-मन्त्रण (कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष: ‘momentary consultation’); स्त्रीलिङ्ग (मन्त्रणाः), पञ्चमी (5th case), एकवचन; अपादान/हेतु (from momentary counsel)

• स्वमुक्तिहेतुः: a cause of one’s own liberation
• स्वमुक्तिहेतुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व + मुक्ति + हेतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: स्व-मुक्ति-हेतु (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: स्वस्य मुक्तेः हेतुḥ); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Negation (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात

• भवति: is; becomes
• भवति: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• असौ: that (one)
• असौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असद्/असौ (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अपि: also; even
• अपि: Emphasis/Connector (निपातार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात; ‘also/even’

• परिग्रहात्: from attachment; from possession
• परिग्रहात्: Apadana/Hetu (Source/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परि + ग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th case), एकवचन; अपादान/हेतु (from/owing to attachment)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Mere intellectual consultation can remove doubt temporarily, but mokṣa is obstructed when the seeker remains bound to parigraha (acquisitiveness/attachment).

Vedantic Theme: Viveka-vairāgya: knowledge must be supported by dispassion; otherwise it becomes instrumental and ego-serving, not liberating.

Application: Seek guidance (guru/śāstra) but pair it with concrete renunciation of grasping—simplify life, practice non-attachment, and align decisions with liberation rather than accumulation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: teachings that attachment binds the jīva and that dharma without inner purity is incomplete; Garuda Purana: emphasis on vairāgya and devotion as supports for liberation

FAQs

What is the importance of parigraha (grasping/possessiveness) in Garuda Purana?

This verse frames parigraha as a subtle bondage: even helpful guidance cannot yield liberation if one remains attached to possessions, identity, or outcomes.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul toward moksha?

It implies that clearing doubts is useful, but liberation requires inner renunciation—freedom from grasping—rather than relying only on external advice or momentary deliberation.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Seek counsel to remove confusion, but pair it with daily detachment: reduce possessiveness, act without clinging to results, and cultivate steady discernment.