Shloka 102

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

Devanagari script

तत्त्वज्ञस्यान्तिमं कृत्यं शृणु वक्ष्यामि ते ऽधुना / येन मोक्षमवाप्नोति ब्रह्म निर्वाणसंज्ञकम्

Transliteration

tattvajñasyāntimaṃ kṛtyaṃ śṛṇu vakṣyāmi te 'dhunā / yena mokṣamavāpnoti brahma nirvāṇasaṃjñakam

Translation

തത്ത്വജ്ഞന്റെ അന്തിമ കൃത്യം കേൾക്കുക; ഇപ്പോൾ ഞാൻ നിന്നോട് പറയുന്നു—അതിലൂടെ അവൻ മോക്ഷം, ‘നിർവാണ’മെന്നറിയപ്പെടുന്ന ബ്രഹ്മസ്ഥിതി പ്രാപിക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

• तत्त्वज्ञस्य: of the knower of truth
• तत्त्वज्ञस्य: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत्त्वज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; समासः तत्त्व + ज्ञ (तत्पुरुष)

• अन्तिमम्: final
• अन्तिमम्: कर्मविशेषण (Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्तिम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• कृत्यम्: duty, act to be done
• कृत्यम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• शृणु: listen
• शृणु: आज्ञार्थक क्रिया (Imperative action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• वक्ष्यामि: I will tell
• वक्ष्यामि: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• ते: to you
• ते: सम्प्रदान (Sampradana/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया/चतुर्थी (2nd/Acc or 4th/Dat), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अधुना: now
• अधुना: कालाधिकरण (Adhikarana of time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अधुना (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• येन: by which
• येन: करण (Karana/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; सम्बन्धक-प्रयोगः (relative)

• मोक्षम्: liberation
• मोक्षम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• अवाप्नोति: attains
• अवाप्नोति: क्रिया (Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव + आप् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• ब्रह्म: Brahman
• ब्रह्म: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• निर्वाणसंज्ञकम्: called ‘nirvāṇa’
• निर्वाणसंज्ञकम्: कर्तृविशेषण (Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्वाण + संज्ञक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः निर्वाणस्य संज्ञा यस्य (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: There is a culminating practice/duty for the tattvajña that leads to mokṣa—Brahman described as nirvāṇa.

Vedantic Theme: Nirvāṇa as brahma-prāpti; the 'final duty' aligns with antakāla-sādhana and consummation of knowledge in direct realization.

Application: Prepare a deliberate end-of-life spiritual protocol: simplify obligations, stabilize mind, and orient practice toward non-attachment and contemplation of Brahman.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: teaching assembly (implied)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.49.103-104 (antakāla cutting of craving; secluded seated practice)

Characters & Entities

• Brahman
• Nirvana

FAQs

What is the importance of the 'final duty' (antima kṛtya) in this Garuda Purana verse?

It points to the culminating practice for a truth-knower—an instruction aimed not merely at merit, but at moksha, culminating in the Brahman-state termed nirvāṇa.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul toward liberation?

It frames liberation as attainable through a specific concluding discipline taught by Vishnu, where the goal is Brahman-realization (nirvāṇa), transcending ordinary post-death outcomes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Prioritize truth-seeking and steady spiritual discipline with the explicit aim of liberation—aligning actions and contemplation toward Brahman-realization rather than only ritual results.