Shloka 14

Viṣṇv-ekapūjya-nirṇaya; Gaṅgā-Viṣṇupadī-māhātmya; Kali-yuga doṣa; Puṣkara-dharma of Viṣṇu-smaraṇa

Devanagari script

लिङ्गं पुष्टं नैव कार्यं सदैव लिङ्गं पुष्टं कार्यमेवं सदापि / योनौ सक्तिर्नैव कार्या सदापि योनौ मुक्ते ऽसंगतो याति मुक्तिम्

Transliteration

liṅgaṃ puṣṭaṃ naiva kāryaṃ sadaiva liṅgaṃ puṣṭaṃ kāryamevaṃ sadāpi / yonau saktirnaiva kāryā sadāpi yonau mukte 'saṃgato yāti muktim

Translation

ଲିଙ୍ଗଶରୀର (ସୂକ୍ଷ୍ମ ଦେହ)କୁ ସଦା ପୋଷଣ କରିବା ଉଚିତ ନୁହେଁ; ବରଂ ଯଥାବିଧି ତାହାକୁ ଶୁଦ୍ଧ କରି ସମ୍ୟକ୍ ଭାବେ ଦୃଢ କରିବା ପାଇଁ ନିରନ୍ତର ପ୍ରୟାସ କରିବା ଉଚିତ। ଯୋନି ଅର୍ଥାତ୍ ଦେହବନ୍ଧନରେ ଆସକ୍ତି କେବେ ନ କର; ଯୋନିମୁକ୍ତ ହୋଇ ଅସଙ୍ଗ ଭାବେ ସେ ମୁକ୍ତିକୁ ଯାଏ।

Word by Word

• लिङ्गम्: the liṅga/sexual organ (or sign)
• लिङ्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• पुष्टम्: nourished/strengthened
• पुष्टम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √पुष् (धातु) → पुष्ट (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP) ‘nourished/strengthened’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (लिङ्गम् इति विशेषणम्)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध

• एव: at all/indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात

• कार्यम्: (it) should be done
• कार्यम्: Kriya (क्रिया-भाव/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: √कृ (धातु) → कार्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भावे/कर्तव्यतायाम् ‘to be done’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विधेय-नाम

• सदा: always
• सदा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात

• लिङ्गम्: liṅga
• लिङ्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• पुष्टम्: nourished
• पुष्टम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √पुष् (धातु) → पुष्ट (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: PPP; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कार्यम्: should be done
• कार्यम्: Kriya (क्रिया-भाव/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तव्यतायाम्

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण

• सदा: always
• सदा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (also/even)

• योनौ: in the yoni/womb
• योनौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/locative), एकवचन

• सक्तिः: attachment
• सक्तिः: Karta (कर्ता/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध

• एव: at all
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात

• कार्या: should be done (to be made)
• कार्या: Kriya (क्रिया-भाव/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कार्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्तव्यतायाम्; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (सक्तिः इति विशेषणम्/विधेय)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात

• योनौ: in the yoni
• योनौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• मुक्ते: when released
• मुक्ते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/सप्तमी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √मुच् (धातु) → मुक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: PPP ‘released’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; ‘when (one is) released’ (locative absolute sense)

• असङ्गतः: detached
• असङ्गतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-सङ्गत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; नञ्-समास (negated)

• याति: goes/attains
• याति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √या (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• मुक्तिम्: liberation
• मुक्तिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Do not perpetuate the liṅga-śarīra’s binding tendencies; purify it rightly and relinquish attachment to embodied becoming; non-attachment to yoni leads to mokṣa.

Vedantic Theme: Saṃsāra driven by subtle-body impressions (vāsanā/saṃskāra); liberation through asaṅga and purification culminating in knowledge/realization.

Application: Reduce identity with roles and cravings; practice self-inquiry and ethical purification; treat desires as subtle-body fuel and consciously stop feeding them through restraint and discernment.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: existential condition (saṃsāra)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: discussions of subtle body, preta states, and how attachments propel post-mortem experience; emphasis on asaṅga for liberation

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of the liṅga (subtle body) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights that the liṅga-śarīra is the carrier of tendencies across births, but spiritual practice should aim at purification and release—not endless reinforcement of embodied cravings.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul toward liberation?

It frames liberation as asaṅga (non-attachment): when the jīva is freed from yoni—symbolizing repeated embodiment and rebirth—it naturally “goes to” mokṣa through detachment.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Reduce identity-based clinging (body, pleasure, compulsions), cultivate sādhana and discrimination (viveka), and practice non-attachment so actions purify rather than deepen rebirth-oriented tendencies.