Shloka 2

Devanagari script

श्रीकृष्ण उवाच / क्वहस्तेनैव कर्तव्यं मोक्षकामैस्तु मानवैः

Transliteration

śrīkṛṣṇa uvāca / kvahastenaiva kartavyaṃ mokṣakāmaistu mānavaiḥ

Translation

ਸ਼੍ਰੀਕ੍ਰਿਸ਼ਨ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ—ਮੋਖਸ਼ ਦੀ ਇੱਛਾ ਰੱਖਣ ਵਾਲੇ ਮਨੁੱਖਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਆਪਣੇ ਹੀ ਹੱਥਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਕੀ ਕਰਨਾ ਚਾਹੀਦਾ ਹੈ?

Word by Word

• श्रीकृष्णः: Sri Krishna
• श्रीकृष्णः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री + कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक); समास
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (Masculine, Nominative, Singular)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (परस्मैपद), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन (Perfect; 3rd person singular)

• क्व: how/where
• क्व: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्व (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नवाचक देशवाचक अव्यय (interrogative adverb: where/how)

• हस्तेन: by the hand
• हस्तेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन (Masculine, Instrumental, Singular)

• एव: only/indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणबोधक अव्यय (emphasis)

• कर्तव्यम्: should be done
• कर्तव्यम्: Kriya (क्रिया/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) + कर्तव्य (कृदन्त, तव्यत्)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेयविशेषण (Neuter Nom./Acc. Sg.; 'to be done')

• मोक्षकामैः: by those desiring liberation
• मोक्षकामैः: Kartr (कर्ता/agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोक्ष + काम (प्रातिपदिक); समास
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (Masculine, Instrumental, Plural; 'desirous of liberation')

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषबोधक अव्यय (particle: but/indeed)

• मानवैः: by humans
• मानवैः: Kartr (कर्ता/agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मानव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन (Masculine, Instrumental, Plural)

Speaker

Śrī Kṛṣṇa (as the instructing divine speaker, aligned with the Vishnu-narration stream in the Garuḍa Purāṇa tradition)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Liberation-seekers must themselves perform the essential act; the teaching stresses personal responsibility and direct performance rather than delegation.

Vedantic Theme: Puruṣakāra (personal effort) aligned with dharma as a prerequisite for higher realization; outer supports cannot replace one’s own sādhana.

Application: Do not postpone or outsource essential dharmic/ritual duties connected with death-preparation; undertake prescribed acts personally with resolve.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: emphasis on timely performance of antyeṣṭi/śrāddha-related duties by the living to secure the dead’s passage (general motif)

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• Mokṣa

FAQs

What is the importance of self-effort for moksha in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames liberation as a practical question of ‘what must be done’ by the seeker, highlighting personal responsibility and deliberate practice rather than passive hope.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey after death in the Garuda Purana?

By directing attention to actions performed ‘by one’s own hand,’ it implies that one’s choices and disciplines in life shape post-death outcomes, a central theme in the Preta Kanda’s afterlife framework.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat liberation as a lived discipline: perform daily dharmic duties, cultivate inner purity, and take ownership of spiritual practice instead of relying only on external rites.