Shloka 1

Moksha and Svarga through Dāna, Tīrtha, Nāma-smaraṇa, and Bhāva

Devanagari script

नाम सप्तत्रिंशो ऽध्यायः तार्क्ष्य उवाच / दानतीर्थार्थितं मोक्षं स्वर्गञ्च वद मे प्रभो / केन मोक्षमवाप्नोति केन स्वर्गे वसेच्चिरम्

Transliteration

nāma saptatriṃśo 'dhyāyaḥ tārkṣya uvāca / dānatīrthārthitaṃ mokṣaṃ svargañca vada me prabho / kena mokṣamavāpnoti kena svarge vasecciram

Translation

താർക്ഷ്യൻ (ഗരുഡൻ) പറഞ്ഞു— ഹേ പ്രഭോ! ദാനവും തീർത്ഥയാത്രയും വഴി ലഭിക്കുന്ന മോക്ഷവും സ്വർഗ്ഗവും എനിക്കു പറയണമേ. ഏതിനാൽ മോക്ഷം ലഭിക്കുന്നു? ഏതിനാൽ സ്വർഗ്ഗത്തിൽ ദീർഘകാലം വസിക്കാം?

Word by Word

• nāma: named
• nāma: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nāman (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb indicating name/identity.

• saptatriṃśaḥ: thirty-seventh
• saptatriṃśaḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saptatriṃśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular. Ordinal number.

• adhyāyaḥ: chapter
• adhyāyaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adhyāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular.

• tārkṣyaḥ: Tarkshya (Garuda)
• tārkṣyaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tārkṣya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular. Patronymic for Garuda.

• uvāca: said / spoke
• uvāca: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Lit Lakara (Perfect), Prathama Purusha, Singular.

• dānatīrthārthitam: sought/requested regarding charity and tirthas
• dānatīrthārthitam: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dānatīrthārthita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular. 'Sought through charity and pilgrimage'.

• mokṣam: liberation
• mokṣam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mokṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular.

• svargam: heaven
• svargam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svarga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular.

• ca: and
• ca: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction.

• vada: tell / speak
• vada: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vad (धातु)
• Form: Lot Lakara (Imperative), Madhyama Purusha, Singular.

• me: to me
• me: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dative/Genitive, Singular.

• prabho: O Lord
• prabho: Sambodhana (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (Sambodhana), Singular.

• kena: by what (means)
• kena: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter/Masc, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular.

• mokṣam: liberation
• mokṣam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mokṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular.

• avāpnoti: attains
• avāpnoti: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: avāp (ava + āp) (धातु)
• Form: Lat Lakara (Present), Prathama Purusha, Singular.

• svarge: in heaven
• svarge: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svarga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular.

• vaset: would dwell / should dwell
• vaset: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vas (धातु)
• Form: Vidhilin Lakara (Potential), Prathama Purusha, Singular.

• ciram: for a long time
• ciram: Adhikarana (Time/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: cira (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb of time.

Speaker

Garuda (Tārkṣya, Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Inquiry into the causal means (sādhana) for mokṣa and prolonged residence in svarga, especially via dāna and tīrtha.

Vedantic Theme: Sādhana-catuṣṭaya orientation: right means and right ends; distinction between finite heavenly merit and liberation.

Application: Use pilgrimage/charity as disciplined practice, but evaluate goals: cultivate devotion and knowledge alongside merit-seeking to orient toward liberation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: dialogue setting (Garuda–Lord)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.38 (chapter opening; sets up answers on mokṣa/svarga); Garuda Purana 2.37 (preceding dāna-vidhi)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Lord Vishnu
• Moksha
• Svarga
• Dana
• Tirtha

FAQs

What is the importance of dāna and tīrtha in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames charity (dāna) and pilgrimage (tīrtha) as key merit-producing disciplines and asks how they relate to two goals: liberation (mokṣa) and heavenly enjoyment (svarga).

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

It introduces the central afterlife concern of the Preta Kanda: which actions lead to higher post-death destinations (svarga) and which lead beyond all destinations to mokṣa.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice intentional giving and sacred observances with a clear aim—purifying motives and aligning actions with dharma—rather than treating rituals as merely transactional.