Shloka 95

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

Devanagari script

यावत्कर्माणि दीप्यन्ते यावत्संसारवासना / यावदिन्द्रियचापल्यं तावत्तत्त्वकथा कुतः

Transliteration

yāvatkarmāṇi dīpyante yāvatsaṃsāravāsanā / yāvadindriyacāpalyaṃ tāvattattvakathā kutaḥ

Translation

So long as actions (karma) keep blazing, so long as the craving for saṃsāra endures, and so long as the senses remain restless—how can there be any discourse on Tattva, the Truth?

Word by Word

• यावत्: as long as
• यावत्: Kala/Avadhi (काल/अवधि)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यावत् (अव्यय/संबन्ध-शब्द)
• Form: अव्यय; परिमाण/अवधि-बोधक (correlative: 'as long as')

• कर्माणि: actions
• कर्माणि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• दीप्यन्ते: shine/flare up
• दीप्यन्ते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दीप् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• यावत्: as long as
• यावत्: Kala/Avadhi (काल/अवधि)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यावत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधिबोधक

• संसार-वासना: worldly latent desire
• संसार-वासना: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संसार (प्रातिपदिक) + वासना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (संसारे वासना)

• यावत्: as long as
• यावत्: Kala/Avadhi (काल/अवधि)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यावत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधिबोधक

• इन्द्रिय-चापल्यम्: restlessness of the senses
• इन्द्रिय-चापल्यम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक) + चापल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (इन्द्रियाणां चापल्यम्)

• तावत्: so long
• तावत्: Kala/Avadhi (काल/अवधि)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तावत् (अव्यय/संबन्ध-शब्द)
• Form: अव्यय; तावद्-शब्दः (correlative: 'so long/then')

• तत्त्व-कथा: discourse on reality
• तत्त्व-कथा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक) + कथा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (तत्त्वस्य कथा)

• कुतः: from where?/how possible?
• कुतः: Prashna (प्रश्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कुतस्/कुतः (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्न-अव्यय (interrogative adverb)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Tattva-katha (true inquiry/discourse on Reality) is obstructed by karmic momentum, samsaric vasana, and indriya-capalatva; purification and restraint are prerequisites.

Vedantic Theme: Adhyasa/vasana as impediments to atma-jnana; necessity of vairagya and shama-dama for tattva-vicara.

Application: Reduce compulsive activity, cultivate sense-restraint (dama), simplify desires, and create daily quiet time for inquiry/meditation before engaging in philosophical study.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.49.96-99 (continuation: dehabhimana, sankalpa, guru-kripa, and tattva-nishtha for moksha)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Samsara
• Indriyas
• Tattva

FAQs

What is the importance of sense-control (indriya-nigraha) in Garuda Purana?

This verse states that as long as the senses are restless, true discussion and realization of tattva (ultimate reality) cannot take root; mastery of the senses is presented as a prerequisite for higher knowledge.

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

By emphasizing that karmic momentum and samsaric cravings keep one bound, the verse implies that unresolved desires and actions propel continued bondage—conditions that shape the post-death trajectory described in the Preta Kanda.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Reduce compulsive action driven by desire, weaken samsaric habits through discipline and remembrance of impermanence, and cultivate steadiness of the senses—so spiritual inquiry becomes effective rather than merely intellectual.