Shloka 78

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

Devanagari script

पठन्ति वेदशास्त्राणि बोधयन्ति परस्परम् / न जानन्ति परं तत्त्वं दर्वी पाकरसं यथा

Transliteration

paṭhanti vedaśāstrāṇi bodhayanti parasparam / na jānanti paraṃ tattvaṃ darvī pākarasaṃ yathā

Translation

അവർ വേദശാസ്ത്രങ്ങൾ പാരായണം ചെയ്ത് പരസ്പരം ബോധിപ്പിക്കുന്നു; എങ്കിലും പരമതത്ത്വം അറിയുന്നില്ല—പാചകത്തിന്റെ രസം കരണ്ടി രുചിക്കാത്തതുപോലെ.

Word by Word

• पठन्ति: they read/recite
• पठन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पठ् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (plural)

• वेदशास्त्राणि: Vedas and treatises
• वेदशास्त्राणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + शास्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (plural); समासः—इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (veda + śāstra)

• बोधयन्ति: they instruct/teach
• बोधयन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: बुध् (धातु, णिच् causative)
• Form: लट् (Present/वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (plural); णिच्-प्रयोग (causative)

• परस्परम्: mutually, to one another
• परस्परम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: परस्पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-निभम्; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb) ‘mutually’

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• जानन्ति: they know
• जानन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (plural)

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• तत्त्वम्: reality, principle
• तत्त्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• दर्वी: ladle
• दर्वी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दर्वी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)

• पाकरसम्: the taste of the cooked food
• पाकरसम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाक (प्रातिपदिक) + रस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular); समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘taste/juice of cooking/food’)

• यथा: as, like
• यथा: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमान-अव्यय (comparative particle: ‘as/like’)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Recitation and teaching can remain external; without direct knowing of paramatattva one is like a ladle that helps cook but cannot taste.

Vedantic Theme: Parokṣa-jñāna vs aparokṣa-jñāna; śravaṇa-manana must culminate in nididhyāsana/anubhava.

Application: Convert study into contemplation; test understanding by transformation (reduced craving/fear); practice meditation and devotion to internalize meaning.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: domestic metaphor

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.49.79 (head/flowers vs nose/fragrance); Garuda Purana 2.49.75-77 (ornate speech; misinterpretation; egoic talk)

Characters & Entities

• Vedas
• Shastras

FAQs

What is the importance of knowing the ‘param tattva’ in the Garuda Purana?

This verse stresses that liberation-oriented wisdom requires direct realization of the highest Truth, not only recitation or debate; without that, learning remains external.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey after death described in the Garuda Purana?

In the Preta Kanda context, the text repeatedly distinguishes outward religiosity from inner transformation; true understanding supports right conduct and preparedness for post-death consequences, whereas mere scholarship may not change one’s karmic trajectory.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Study scripture with reflection and practice—turn learning into lived ethics, devotion, and self-inquiry—so knowledge becomes transformative rather than merely informational.