Shloka 41

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

Devanagari script

श्वः कार्यमद्य कुर्वीत पूर्वाह्ने चापराह्निकम् / न हि मृत्युः प्रतीक्षेत कृतं वाप्यथ वाकृतम्

Transliteration

śvaḥ kāryamadya kurvīta pūrvāhne cāparāhnikam / na hi mṛtyuḥ pratīkṣeta kṛtaṃ vāpyatha vākṛtam

Translation

Lakukanlah kerja esok pada hari ini, dan kerja hari ini pun pada waktu pagi. Kerana Maut tidak menunggu untuk melihat sama ada tugas itu telah selesai atau masih belum dibuat.

Word by Word

• श्वः: tomorrow
• श्वः: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: श्वः (अव्यय)
• Form: काल-अव्यय (adverb of time: tomorrow)

• कार्यम्: a task to be done
• कार्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन (singular)

• अद्य: today
• अद्य: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अद्य (अव्यय)
• Form: काल-अव्यय (adverb of time: today)

• कुर्वीत: should do
• कुर्वीत: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular), परस्मैपद

• पूर्वाह्ने: in the forenoon
• पूर्वाह्ने: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूर्वाह्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन (singular)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अपराह्निकम्: afternoon-duty/afternoon task
• अपराह्निकम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपराह्निक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन (singular)

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

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle: indeed/for)

• मृत्युः: death
• मृत्युः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृत्यु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (singular)

• प्रतीक्षेत: would wait for
• प्रतीक्षेत: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति + ईक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular), परस्मैपद; उपसर्ग: प्रति-

• कृतम्: done
• कृतम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (Past passive participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (singular)

• वा: or
• वा: Vikalpa (विकल्प/Alternative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प-अव्यय (disjunctive particle: or)

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/सम्भावना-अव्यय (particle: also/even)

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तर/प्रसङ्ग-अव्यय (particle: then/now)

• वा: or
• वा: Vikalpa (विकल्प/Alternative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प-अव्यय (disjunctive particle: or)

• अकृतम्: undone
• अकृतम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अकृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (singular)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Aparihārya-mṛtyu (inevitable, non-waiting death) demands prompt performance of duty and spiritual practice; avoid pramāda (negligence).

Vedantic Theme: Kṣaṇikatva (fleeting time) and pramāda as the enemy of realization; right action in the present supports purification (citta-śuddhi).

Application: Do not postpone essential duties, reconciliation, charity, japa, and ethical repairs; complete priority tasks early; live as if time is uncertain.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana admonitions on impermanence and timely dharma (general thematic continuity within Pretakalpa-related discourse)

Characters & Entities

• Mṛtyu (Death)

FAQs

What is the importance of timely action in the Garuda Purana?

This verse teaches that since death is unpredictable, dharmic duties and necessary responsibilities should not be postponed; urgency in right action protects one from regret and unpreparedness.

How does this verse relate to the Garuda Purana’s after-death teachings?

Preta Kanda repeatedly stresses preparedness—ethical living, timely rites, and completing obligations—because death can arrive without warning, affecting one’s state of mind and the support available through dharma.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Prioritize essential duties early, avoid procrastination in ethical commitments (repayment, apologies, service, rituals), and live with the awareness that time is uncertain.