Shloka 17
Śravaṇa-Mahātmya: The Śravaṇas, Cosmic Testimony, and the Paths of the Puruṣārthas
धर्मं चार्थं च कामं च मोक्षं च कथयन्ति ते / एको हि धर्ममार्गश्च द्वितीयश्चार्थमार्गकः
dharmaṃ cārthaṃ ca kāmaṃ ca mokṣaṃ ca kathayanti te / eko hi dharmamārgaśca dvitīyaścārthamārgakaḥ
അവർ ധർമ്മം, അർത്ഥം, കാമം, മോക്ഷം എന്നീ നാല് പുരുഷാർത്ഥങ്ങളെ ഉപദേശിക്കുന്നു. വാസ്തവത്തിൽ ഒന്ന് ‘ധർമ്മമാർഗം’, രണ്ടാമത് ‘അർത്ഥമാർഗം’ എന്നു പറയുന്നു।
Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Concept: The four aims are taught as structured pursuits; dharma and artha are presented as distinct mārga-s (paths) within worldly life, with mokṣa as the transcendent aim.
Vedantic Theme: Puruṣārtha-viveka: ordering of human goals culminating in mokṣa; dharma as regulator of artha/kāma.
Application: Set life priorities: pursue prosperity and desire only within dharma; keep mokṣa as the long-term horizon through discipline and devotion.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Type: didactic setting (instructional discourse)
Related Themes: Garuda Purana: sections on dharma, śrāddha, and mokṣa as highest aim (general parallel)
FAQs
This verse frames Garuda Purana teaching around the four human goals—dharma, artha, kāma, and mokṣa—showing that spiritual instruction includes ethical duty, responsible livelihood, regulated desire, and ultimate liberation.
By distinguishing dharma-mārga and artha-mārga, the verse implies that one’s orientation—toward righteousness or merely worldly acquisition—shapes karmic outcomes, which in the Preta Kanda context affects post-death experience and the trajectory toward release.
Pursue artha and kāma only under the guidance of dharma, and keep mokṣa as the long-term aim—make daily choices that are truthful, non-harmful, and duty-aligned while earning and enjoying responsibly.