Shloka 90

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

Devanagari script

अद्वैतं हि शिवं प्रोक्तं क्रिययापरिवर्जितम् / गुरुवक्त्रेण लभ्येत नाधीतागमकोटिभिः

Transliteration

advaitaṃ hi śivaṃ proktaṃ kriyayāparivarjitam / guruvaktreṇa labhyeta nādhītāgamakoṭibhiḥ

Translation

まことにシヴァ（Śiva）は不二（アドヴァイタ）と説かれ、儀礼的行為の領域を超えている。彼はグル（師）の口より授かる生きた教えによって得られ、無数のアーガマ（Āgama）を学ぶことでは得られない。

Word by Word

• advaitam: non-duality
• advaitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: a-dvaita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय)

• śivam: auspicious
• śivam: Vidheyavisheshana (विधेय-विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; used as predicate adjective

• proktam: declared
• proktam: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√vac (धातु) → prokta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/PPP), Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; ‘has been said/declared’

• kriyayā: by ritual action
• kriyayā: Karana (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kriyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• a-parivarjitam: not excluded by action / beyond action
• a-parivarjitam: Visheshana (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a- (उपसर्ग/नञ्) + parivarjita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) [pari-√vṛj/√vṛj? → parivarjita ‘avoided’]
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; negative participial adjective: ‘not to be excluded/without excluding’

• guru-vaktreṇa: through the guru’s mouth (instruction)
• guru-vaktreṇa: Karana (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guru (प्रातिपदिक) + vaktra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; तत्पुरुष-समासः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: गुरोः वक्त्रम्)

• labhyeta: is obtained
• labhyeta: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √labh (धातु)
• Form: Potential/Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd Person (प्रथम-पुरुष), Singular; Ātmanepada; passive sense: ‘may be obtained’

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-अव्यय)

• adhīta-āgama-koṭibhiḥ: by crores of studied āgamas (i.e., by studying countless āgamas)
• adhīta-āgama-koṭibhiḥ: Karana (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adhīta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; ā-√dhī/√adhī ‘to study’ → अधीत) + āgama (प्रातिपदिक) + koṭi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (koṭibhiḥ); तत्पुरुष-समासः: ‘studied-āgama’ as qualifier + ‘by crores’; overall: ‘by crores of (people) who have studied āgamas’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Advaita Śiva/Brahman is beyond ritual action and is realized through living guru-upadeśa rather than mere scriptural study.

Vedantic Theme: Aparokṣa-jñāna via śravaṇa from a realized Guru; karma is not the direct means to Brahman.

Application: Prioritize disciplined listening and contemplation under a competent teacher; use texts as support, not as a substitute for realization.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.49.91 (śabda-brahman vs para-brahman); Garuda Purana 2.49.93 (mama/na mama as bondage-liberation key)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Guru
• Agamas

FAQs

What is the importance of Advaita (non-duality) in this Garuda Purana verse?

The verse frames Śiva as the non-dual Reality, indicating liberation is rooted in direct realization of oneness rather than in external multiplicity of rites or texts.

Does this verse reject rituals mentioned in Garuda Purana death rites?

It does not deny the value of rites for dharma and post-death welfare, but it states that the highest realization of Śiva is not achieved by ritual action alone—its key means is the Guru’s direct instruction.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Study scriptures with humility, but prioritize authentic guidance and inner transformation—use practices as supports, while seeking direct insight through a qualified teacher and steady contemplation.