Shloka 16
Moksha and Svarga through Dāna, Tīrtha, Nāma-smaraṇa, and Bhāva
ब्राह्मणार्थे गवार्थे च स्त्रीणां बलवधेषु च / प्राणत्यागपरो यस्तु स वै मोक्षमवाप्नुयात्
brāhmaṇārthe gavārthe ca strīṇāṃ balavadheṣu ca / prāṇatyāgaparo yastu sa vai mokṣamavāpnuyāt
ബ്രാഹ്മണന്റെ നന്മയ്ക്കായി, പശുക്കളുടെ നന്മയ്ക്കായി, സ്ത്രീകളെ ബലപ്രയോഗ ഹാനിയിൽ നിന്ന് രക്ഷിക്കാനായി ജീവത്യാഗത്തിന് തയ്യാറായവൻ—അവൻ തന്നേ നിശ്ചയം മോക്ഷം പ്രാപിക്കും।
Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Concept: Dying in dharmic self-sacrifice—protecting brāhmaṇas, cows, and women from violence—can confer mokṣa; dharma aligned with selflessness becomes liberative.
Vedantic Theme: Niṣkāma-karma and dharma-yuddha ethos: self-transcending action dissolves egoic bondage; liberation linked to purity of motive and protection of dharma.
Application: Stand against violence and exploitation; protect the vulnerable; support education and ethical culture; practice courageous compassion even at personal cost (within lawful, non-harmful means).
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Related Themes: Garuda Purana: praise of dharmic death and meritorious death (śubha-mṛtyu) leading to higher gati/mokṣa (general internal resonance)
FAQs
This verse states that being willing to lay down one’s life to uphold core dharmic protections—brāhmaṇas, cows, and women under violent threat—creates such profound merit and purity that it can culminate in mokṣa.
In the Preta Kanda’s ethical framework, the soul’s post-death trajectory is shaped by dharma and adharma; here, extreme dharmic courage and protection of the vulnerable is presented as a direct cause leading beyond punitive afterlife states toward liberation.
Stand up—lawfully and courageously—against violence and exploitation, protect the vulnerable, and support genuine spiritual learning and compassionate care; the verse emphasizes that dharma-driven courage is spiritually transformative.