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Shloka 80

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

Devanagari script

तत्त्वमात्मस्थमज्ञात्वा मूढः शास्त्रेषु मुह्यति / गोपः कक्षागते च्छागे कूपं पश्यति दुर्मतिः

Transliteration

tattvamātmasthamajñātvā mūḍhaḥ śāstreṣu muhyati / gopaḥ kakṣāgate cchāge kūpaṃ paśyati durmatiḥ

Translation

സ്വാത്മാവിൽ നിലകൊള്ളുന്ന തത്ത്വം അറിയാതെ മൂഢൻ ശാസ്ത്രങ്ങളിൽ ഭ്രമിക്കുന്നു; കക്ഷയിൽ ആട് ഉണ്ടായിട്ടും ദുർബുദ്ധിയായ ഇടയൻ അതിനെ കിണറ്റിൽ തേടുന്നതുപോലെ.

Word by Word
तत्त्वम्truth, reality
तत्त्वम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootतत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)
आत्मस्थम्situated in oneself
आत्मस्थम्:
Visheshana (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootआत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular); समासः—सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषः (‘situated in the self’)
अज्ञात्वाnot knowing / having failed to know
अज्ञात्वा:
Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootअ + ज्ञा (धातु)
Formक्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), ‘having not known’
मूढःa deluded person
मूढः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootमूढ (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त from √मुह्)
Formपुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)
शास्त्रेषुin scriptures
शास्त्रेषु:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootशास्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), सप्तमी (Locative/7th), बहुवचन (plural)
मुह्यतिis confused/deluded
मुह्यति:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootमुह् (धातु)
Formलट् (Present/वर्तमान), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular)
गोपःcowherd
गोपः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootगोप (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)
कक्षागतेwhen (it is) in the armpit/side
कक्षागते:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
TypeAdjective
Rootकक्षा (प्रातिपदिक) + गत (कृदन्त; √गम्)
Formपुंलिङ्ग (masculine), सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन (singular); भूतकृदन्त ‘गत’; समासः—सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषः (‘when [it is] in the armpit/side-pocket’)
छागे(with) the goat (being)
छागे:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootछाग (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग (masculine), सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन (singular)
कूपम्a well
कूपम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootकूप (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)
पश्यतिsees
पश्यति:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootपश्/दृश् (धातु; √दृश्)
Formलट् (Present/वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular)
दुर्मतिःa person of bad intellect
दुर्मतिः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootदुर् (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + मति (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular); समासः—कर्मधारयः (‘bad-mindedness/one of bad intellect’)
Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Tattva is ātma-stha (abiding in one’s own Self); scriptural bewilderment persists without direct self-knowledge.

Vedantic Theme: Avidyā causes superimposition and outward seeking; ātma-jñāna alone resolves confusion (śāstra as pointer, not substitute).

Application: Shift from mere textual debate to self-inquiry and contemplative assimilation (nididhyāsana); verify teachings in lived awareness.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: hasya

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.49.81; Garuda Purana 2.49.82; Garuda Purana 2.49.84

Characters & Entities
V
Vishnu
G
Garuda

FAQs

This verse says the essential Truth is within one’s own Self; without realizing it, even extensive scriptural study can become a source of confusion rather than liberation.

By emphasizing inner realization over mere external searching, it implies that clarity about the Self is foundational for understanding teachings on death, the subtle journey, and liberation described in the Preta Kanda.

Study sacred texts with self-inquiry and lived practice—verify teachings through inner discipline—so you don’t ‘search in the well’ for what is already present as awareness within.

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