Shloka 37

Mahālakṣmī’s Forms, Brahmā’s Fourfold Origin, Vāyu’s Names and Soteriology, and Bhāratī’s Manifestations

Devanagari script

यावत्काम्यसपर्यां वै न जहाति नरोत्तमः / तथा ऋष्यादयश्चैव मोक्षस्य परिपन्थिनीम्

Transliteration

yāvatkāmyasaparyāṃ vai na jahāti narottamaḥ / tathā ṛṣyādayaścaiva mokṣasya paripanthinīm

Translation

Oh, el mejor de los hombres: mientras uno no abandone la adoración y el servicio ritual movidos por el deseo, incluso los rishis y los demás permanecen en el sendero que obstaculiza la liberación (moksha).

Word by Word

• यावत्: as long as
• यावत्: कालाधिकरण (Temporal limiter)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यावत् (अव्यय/संबन्ध-शब्द)
• Form: अव्यय (correlative), परिमाण/काल-सीमा (as long as)

• काम्य-सपर्याम्: desire-motivated worship/service
• काम्य-सपर्याम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम्य (प्रातिपदिक) + सपर्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: काम्या सपर्या (विशेषण-विशेष्य; कर्मधारय), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (Accusative singular)

• वै: indeed
• वै: सम्बन्ध-निर्देशक
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• न: not
• न: निषेधक
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध (negation)

• जहाति: abandons/gives up
• जहाति: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हा (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• नर-उत्तमः: the best of men
• नर-उत्तमः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: उत्तमः नरः (कर्मधारय), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन

• तथा: likewise/so
• तथा: प्रकार (Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (thus/in the same way)

• ऋषि-आदयः: sages and others
• ऋषि-आदयः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: ऋषयः आदयः (group: ‘sages and others’), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध-निर्देशक
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय (and)

• एव: indeed
• एव: सम्बन्ध-निर्देशक
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण (only/indeed)

• मोक्षस्य: of liberation
• मोक्षस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी एकवचन

• परिपन्थिनीम्: an obstacle (to it)
• परिपन्थिनीम्: कर्म (Karma/Object complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परिपन्थिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण (adjective), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; ‘obstructing/standing in the way’ (fem. acc. agreeing with implied सपर्याम्/वासनाम् etc.)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Kāmya-saparayā (desire-motivated worship/service) is a paripanthinī—an obstacle on the road to mokṣa—even for sages.

Vedantic Theme: Vairāgya as prerequisite; karma-miśra devotion binds through saṅkalpa and phala-āśā.

Application: Convert worship from 'I want results' to 'I offer myself'; reduce bargaining prayers; adopt niṣkāma-sevā and contemplation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.16.36 (kāmya worship even among sages); Garuda Purana 3.16.39 (guru-instruction destroys vāsanā; yoga leads to mokṣa); Garuda Purana 3.16.40 (kāmya worship yields aiśvarya but distorts knowledge)

Characters & Entities

• Rishis
• Moksha

FAQs

What is the importance of kāmya worship in the Garuda Purana context?

This verse warns that worship performed for specific worldly results (kāmya) can bind the mind to outcomes and thus become a hindrance to moksha.

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

It emphasizes that liberation is blocked by attachment to fruit-seeking rites; the soul’s progress depends on renouncing outcome-driven religiosity in favor of liberation-oriented practice.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform worship and duties without bargaining for results—reduce ritual actions driven by desire, cultivate detachment, and align practices with inner purification and remembrance of the Divine.