Shloka 65

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

Devanagari script

गृहारण्यसमा लोके गतव्रीडा दिगम्बराः / चरन्ति गर्दभाद्याश्च विरक्तास्ते भवन्ति किम्

Transliteration

gṛhāraṇyasamā loke gatavrīḍā digambarāḥ / caranti gardabhādyāśca viraktāste bhavanti kim

Translation

Di dunia ini, rumah pun dapat seperti hutan; orang yang tanpa malu dan telanjang berkeliaran laksana keledai dan sejenisnya—apakah itu saja menjadikan mereka sungguh-sungguh vairagya?

Word by Word

• गृह-अरण्य-समाः: (for whom) home and forest are the same
• गृह-अरण्य-समाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गृह (प्रातिपदिक) + अरण्य (प्रातिपदिक) + सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; द्वन्द्वः—गृहं च अरण्यं च (as spheres), तयोः समाः (equal in); Nominative plural

• लोके: in the world
• लोके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Locative singular

• गत-व्रीडाः: shameless (having lost modesty)
• गत-व्रीडाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गम् (धातु) → गत (कृदन्त, क्त) + व्रीडा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—गता व्रीडा येषाम् (those whose shame has gone); Nominative plural

• दिगम्बराः: sky-clad (naked ascetics)
• दिगम्बराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिक् (प्रातिपदिक) + अम्बर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—दिग् एव अम्बरं येषाम् (sky-clad, naked); Nominative plural

• चरन्ति: they roam
• चरन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; Parasmaipada; ‘they roam’

• गर्दभ-आद्याः: donkeys and the like
• गर्दभ-आद्याः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गर्दभ (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः—गर्दभः आदिः येषाम् (donkeys etc.); Nominative plural

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चय) conjunction ‘and’

• विरक्ताः: detached
• विरक्ताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + रञ्ज् (धातु) → विरक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (detached)

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Nominative plural

• भवन्ति: are/become
• भवन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; Parasmaipada; ‘they become/are’

• किम्: what?/really?
• किम्: Prashna (प्रश्न/प्रश्नार्थ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; interrogative ‘what?’ (i.e., ‘do they become (truly) detached?’)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (addressing Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: External marks (digambara, wandering) do not constitute true vairagya; liberation-oriented detachment is an inner transformation, not mere lifestyle mimicry.

Vedantic Theme: Viveka-vairagya: discrimination between appearance and reality; renunciation of doership/ego rather than costume or location.

Application: Evaluate spiritual practice by reduction of ego, craving, and harm; avoid performative asceticism; cultivate inner restraint, humility, and devotion/knowledge alongside ethical conduct.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: hasya

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.49.66-69 (continuation of critique of externalism)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of true detachment (vairagya) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse stresses that real vairagya is an inner transformation; merely abandoning social norms or appearing ascetic does not prove liberation-minded dispassion.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in Garuda Purana’s teaching style?

By rejecting superficial spirituality, it points the listener toward inner dharma—purification of intention and conduct—which is central to shaping one’s post-death trajectory through karma.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Measure spiritual progress by reduced greed, anger, and harm—not by external markers like dress, lifestyle, or public displays of renunciation.