Shloka 84

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

Devanagari script

अनेकानि च शास्त्राणि स्वल्पायुर्विघ्नकोटयः / तस्मात्सारं विजानीयात्क्षीरं हंस इवाम्भसि

Transliteration

anekāni ca śāstrāṇi svalpāyurvighnakoṭayaḥ / tasmātsāraṃ vijānīyātkṣīraṃ haṃsa ivāmbhasi

Translation

経典は多く、寿命は短く、障りは無数である。ゆえに要（さ）を見極めて掴み取れ—水の中で乳を水から分けるハンサ（白鳥）のように。

Word by Word

• अनेकानि: many
• अनेकानि: विशेषण (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनेक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन; ‘many’ (qualifying शास्त्राणि)

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

• शास्त्राणि: treatises, scriptures
• शास्त्राणि: कर्ता (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शास्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• स्वल्प-आयुः: short lifespan
• स्वल्प-आयुः: कर्ता (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वल्प (प्रातिपदिक) + आयुस्/आयुः (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः (स्वल्पम् आयुः)

• विघ्न-कोटयः: crores of obstacles
• विघ्न-कोटयः: कर्ता (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विघ्न (प्रातिपदिक) + कोटि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (विघ्नानां कोटयः)

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: सम्बन्ध (therefore)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तस्मात् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक तद्)
• Form: निगमन/हेतु-अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः; मूलतः पञ्चमी एकवचन ‘from that/therefore’

• सारम्: the essence
• सारम्: कर्म (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• विजानीयात्: should discern
• विजानीयात्: क्रिया (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + √ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; ‘should discern/know’

• क्षीरम्: milk
• क्षीरम्: कर्म (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; object in simile

• हंसः: a swan
• हंसः: कर्ता (कर्ता/Agent in simile)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हंस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• इव: like
• इव: सम्बन्ध (simile marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय (like/as)

• अम्भसि: in water
• अम्भसि: अधिकरण (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अम्भस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Given limited lifespan and countless impediments, one should grasp the sāra (essence) of teachings through discrimination.

Vedantic Theme: Viveka as the decisive faculty: separating the real from the unreal, the essential purport from ancillary detail; śāstra-sāra leads toward liberation.

Application: Prioritize core practices and teachings (e.g., self-knowledge, devotion, ethical discipline); design a focused sādhanā plan rather than scattered study.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: sacred lake (implied)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.49.80; Garuda Purana 2.49.81; Garuda Purana 2.49.83

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu
• Shastras
• Hamsa (metaphor)

FAQs

What is the importance of extracting the essence of scriptures in the Garuda Purana?

This verse stresses that because life is brief and obstacles are many, one should focus on the core, practice-ready teachings of dharma rather than getting lost in endless textual detail.

How does this verse relate to the Garuda Purana’s afterlife focus?

In the Preta Kanda context, it functions as a prioritization principle: adopt the essential disciplines (dharma, right conduct, and necessary rites) that support a good passage after death, instead of postponing practice through excessive study.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Choose a small set of daily, high-impact practices—ethical living, remembrance of the divine, and required family rites—and follow them consistently, keeping study oriented toward lived transformation.