Shloka 45

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

Devanagari script

स्वदेहमपि जीवो ऽयं मुक्त्वा याति यमालयम् / स्त्रीमातृपितृपुत्त्रादिसम्बन्धः केन हेतुना

Transliteration

svadehamapi jīvo 'yaṃ muktvā yāti yamālayam / strīmātṛpitṛputtrādisambandhaḥ kena hetunā

Translation

Makhluk bernyawa ini, setelah meninggalkan tubuhnya sendiri, pergi ke kediaman Yama. Maka atas sebab apakah seseorang masih mendakwa hubungan dengan isteri, ibu, bapa, anak lelaki dan yang seumpamanya?

Word by Word

• स्वदेहम्: one's own body
• स्वदेहम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व + देह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (स्वस्य देहः)

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Avyaya (अव्यय-प्रयोग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-कारक अव्यय (also/even)

• जीवः: the living being (soul)
• जीवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; संकेतवाचक सर्वनाम

• मुक्त्वा: having abandoned
• मुक्त्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालिक क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव/gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• याति: goes
• याति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• यमालयम्: the abode of Yama
• यमालयम्: Gati/Karma (गति/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यम + आलय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (यमस्य आलयः)

• स्त्रीमातृपितृपुत्रादिसम्बन्धः: relationship with wife, mother, father, son, etc.
• स्त्रीमातृपितृपुत्रादिसम्बन्धः: Karta (कर्ता/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री + मातृ + पितृ + पुत्र + आदि + सम्बन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (स्त्री-मातृ-पितृ-पुत्र-आदि-सम्बन्धः)

• केन: by what?/with what?
• केन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक सर्वनाम

• हेतुना: by reason/cause
• हेतुना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हेतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dehābhimāna and family-identity are contingent; the jīva departs alone, so clinging to relational ownership is irrational.

Vedantic Theme: Viveka between ātman/jīva and upādhi (body, social roles); anityatā of saṃsāra-bandha.

Application: Practice daily mṛtyu-smṛti and reduce possessive language (‘mine’); cultivate compassionate care without bondage, and prioritize sādhana over social identity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: divine court/abode

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: teachings on the jīva’s departure and Yama’s path (general parallel themes)

Characters & Entities

• Yama
• Jiva

FAQs

What is the importance of detachment in the Garuda Purana?

This verse stresses that the jīva departs alone to Yama’s realm after leaving the body, so worldly family-identities are temporary and should not eclipse dharma and spiritual preparation.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

It states that the individual soul abandons the physical body and proceeds to Yamālaya, implying a post-death journey where one faces consequences beyond social ties and household roles.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate non-attachment, fulfill duties without possessiveness, and prioritize ethical living and remembrance of mortality—so one is inwardly prepared for death and accountability.