Shloka 37
Mukti-tattva Upadeśa: Knowledge as the Direct Cause of Liberation
युज्यते वेष्टनं वायोराकाशस्य च खण्डनम् / ग्रथनञ्च तरङ्गाणामास्था नायुषि युज्यते
yujyate veṣṭanaṃ vāyorākāśasya ca khaṇḍanam / grathanañca taraṅgāṇāmāsthā nāyuṣi yujyate
Seseorang seolah-olah mahu membungkus angin, memotong langit menjadi kepingan, atau mengikat ombak; demikian juga, bersandar pada hayat seakan-akan ia kekal adalah tidak munasabah.
Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Concept: Relying on life as lasting is as futile as wrapping wind, cutting space, or tying waves.
Vedantic Theme: Asatya/anitya of the body-world; seek the nitya (the enduring Self/Brahman).
Application: Stop postponing dharma and sadhana; simplify commitments; cultivate steady practice independent of external stability.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: cosmic elements (wind/sky/waves)
Related Themes: Garuda Purana: impermanence and urgency passages (thematic)
FAQs
This verse uses impossibilities (binding wind, cutting space, tying waves) to show that trusting life as stable is equally misguided; the Purana urges timely spiritual preparation and dharmic living.
By warning against reliance on the body’s lifespan, it redirects attention to what continues beyond death—one’s karma and inner disposition—shaping the post-death journey described in the Preta Kanda.
Live with urgency in dharma: reduce attachment, prioritize ethical conduct, remembrance of God, and timely performance of duties/rites, rather than assuming “there is plenty of time.”