Shloka 114

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

Devanagari script

अयोध्या मथुरा माया काशी काञ्ची अवन्तिक / पुरी द्वारवती ज्ञेयाः सप्तैता मोक्षदायिकाः

Transliteration

ayodhyā mathurā māyā kāśī kāñcī avantika / purī dvāravatī jñeyāḥ saptaitā mokṣadāyikāḥ

Translation

Ayodhyā, Mathurā, Māyā (Haridvāra), Kāśī, Kāñcī, Avantikā (Ujjayinī), and Purī (Jagannātha Purī), together with Dvāravatī (Dvārakā)—know these seven as the sacred cities that bestow liberation (mokṣa).

Word by Word

• अयोध्या: Ayodhyā
• अयोध्या: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अयोध्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (नगरनाम)

• मथुरा: Mathurā
• मथुरा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मथुरा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (नगरनाम)

• माया: Māyā
• माया: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (नगरनाम; हरिद्वार-क्षेत्रे ‘माया’)

• काशी: Kāśī
• काशी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (नगरनाम)

• काञ्ची: Kāñcī
• काञ्ची: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काञ्ची (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (नगरनाम)

• अवन्तिक: Avantikā (Ujjayinī)
• अवन्तिक: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवन्तिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (नगरनाम); पदे ‘अवन्तिक’ इति छान्दस-रूप/प्रयोग

• पुरी: Purī
• पुरी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (नगरनाम)

• द्वारवती: Dvāravatī (Dvārakā)
• द्वारवती: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वारवती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (नगरनाम)

• ज्ञेयाः: are to be known
• ज्ञेयाः: Vidheyavisheshana (विधेयविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्यय (तव्यत्/यत्-भाव; ‘ज्ञेय’), प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; पुंलिङ्ग (स्त्रीलिङ्गार्थे अपि सामान्य-बहुवचन-प्रयोगः)

• सप्त: seven
• सप्त: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्त (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्या-शब्दः; अत्र विशेषणम्—‘seven’

• एताः: these
• एताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• मोक्षदायिकाः: granting liberation
• मोक्षदायिकाः: Vidheyavisheshana (विधेयविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मोक्ष-दायिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (मोक्षं ददाति इति)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Certain sacred cities are renowned as moksha-prada due to their ksetra-shakti and divine presence; pilgrimage and death/abode there are held spiritually efficacious.

Vedantic Theme: Grace mediated through ksetra (place) as an aid to liberation; supports bhakti and antima-smriti by sanctified environment.

Application: Undertake pilgrimage with ethical discipline and devotional intent; use sacred geography as a framework for spiritual retreats and remembrance of the divine.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: sapta-puri (moksha cities) / sacred ksetras

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.49.113 (mukti-ksetra death)

Characters & Entities

• Ayodhya
• Mathura
• Haridwar (Maya)
• Kashi
• Kanchi
• Avantika (Ujjain)
• Puri
• Dvaraka

FAQs

What is the importance of the Sapta Puri in the Garuda Purana?

This verse identifies seven celebrated sacred cities as “mokṣa-dāyikāḥ,” meaning they are especially revered as places whose dharma, worship, and tirtha-associations support liberation-oriented living and remembrance of the Divine.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey after death in the Garuda Purana?

In the Preta Kanda context, the text often emphasizes supports for a favorable post-death state—merit (puṇya), devotion, and sacred rites; pilgrimage to renowned tirthas is presented as a powerful aid that can orient one toward mokṣa rather than continued wandering in saṃsāra.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate pilgrimage-minded devotion: visit a tirtha when possible, or regularly remember and worship the presiding deities of these cities, while living ethically—truthfulness, non-harm, charity, and prayer—so the aspiration for mokṣa becomes practical daily discipline.