Shloka 63

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

Devanagari script

जटाभाराजिनैर्युक्ता दाम्भिका वेषधारिणः / भ्रमन्ति ज्ञानिवल्लोके भ्रामयन्ति जनानपि

Transliteration

jaṭābhārājinairyuktā dāmbhikā veṣadhāriṇaḥ / bhramanti jñānivalloke bhrāmayanti janānapi

Translation

जटांचा भार व अजिन धारण करणारे दांभिक वेषधारी ज्ञानी असल्याप्रमाणे जगात फिरतात आणि लोकांनाही भ्रमित करतात।

Word by Word

• जटा-भार-अजिनैः: with matted hair, burdens, and skins
• जटा-भार-अजिनैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जटा (प्रातिपदिक) + भार (प्रातिपदिक) + अजिन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; द्वन्द्वः—जटाः च भारः च अजिनानि च; Instrumental plural (with matted hair, loads, and skins)

• युक्ताः: endowed/associated
• युक्ताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युज् (धातु) → युक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (endowed/connected)

• दाम्भिकाः: hypocrites/pretenders
• दाम्भिकाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दाम्भिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Nominative plural

• वेष-धारिणः: wearers of (religious) garb
• वेष-धारिणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेष (प्रातिपदिक) + धारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—वेषस्य धारिणः; Nominative plural

• भ्रमन्ति: they wander
• भ्रमन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भ्रम् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; Parasmaipada; ‘they wander’

• ज्ञानीवत्: like the wise
• ज्ञानीवत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ज्ञानीवत् (अव्यय/तुल्योपमा-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (उपमा-अव्यय) ‘like a knower/wise man’

• लोके: in the world
• लोके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Locative singular

• भ्रामयन्ति: they delude
• भ्रामयन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भ्रम् (धातु) + णिच् (causative)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद; णिजन्त (causative) ‘they cause to wander/delude’

• जनान्: people
• जनान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Accusative plural

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चय/अपि-कार) ‘also/even’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: External ascetic insignia without inner realization is dambha; such people imitate the wise and mislead society.

Vedantic Theme: True jñāna is inner transformation (śama, dama, vairāgya); mere āśrama-symbols are not proof of realization.

Application: Assess teachers by conduct, humility, and consistency; cultivate inner virtues rather than costume; practice discernment (viveka) in choosing guidance.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.49.64 (shun the pleasure-attached ‘brahmajñānī’ claimant)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of warning against hypocrisy in the Garuda Purana?

This verse stresses that external marks of holiness (matted hair, deerskin, religious dress) are not proof of wisdom; hypocrisy harms dharma because it deceives society and corrupts spiritual life.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s path and afterlife teaching in the Garuda Purana?

In the Preta Kanda’s ethical framework, deception and misuse of religious identity are serious moral faults; such conduct obstructs genuine purification that supports a favorable post-death journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Evaluate teachers by conduct, compassion, and integrity rather than appearance; practice sincerity in one’s own spiritual life and avoid exploiting religious symbols for status or gain.