Shloka 88

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

Devanagari script

नाश्रमः कारणं मुक्तेर्दर्शनानि न कारणम् / तथैव सर्वकर्माणि ज्ञानमेव हि कारणम्

Transliteration

nāśramaḥ kāraṇaṃ mukterdarśanāni na kāraṇam / tathaiva sarvakarmāṇi jñānameva hi kāraṇam

Translation

Nem o āśrama (estágio de vida) é a causa da libertação, nem os darśanas (sistemas filosóficos) o são. Do mesmo modo, nenhuma ação (karma) é a causa; somente o conhecimento é a causa verdadeira.

Word by Word

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-अव्यय)

• āśramaḥ: (a) stage/order of life
• āśramaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āśrama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• kāraṇam: cause
• kāraṇam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• mukteḥ: of liberation
• mukteḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mukti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• darśanāni: philosophical systems/views
• darśanāni: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: darśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-अव्यय)

• kāraṇam: cause
• kāraṇam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• tathā: thus/so
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय)

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय)

• sarva-karmāṇi: all actions
• sarva-karmāṇi: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; कर्मधारय-समासः (सर्वाणि कर्माणि)

• jñānam: knowledge
• jñānam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jñāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• eva: alone/indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय)

• hi: for/indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Causal/emphatic particle (हेतौ/निश्चये)

• kāraṇam: cause
• kāraṇam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Neither life-stage, nor philosophical affiliation, nor actions are the direct cause of liberation; knowledge alone is the true cause.

Vedantic Theme: Primacy of jñāna over karma and external roles; liberation as recognition of the Self, not a produced result of action.

Application: Do not postpone inner work waiting for a perfect role, lineage, or system; cultivate discernment, meditation, and self-inquiry now.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.49.87 (jñāna alone gives kaivalya); Garuda Purana 2.49.89 (guru-vākya as the liberating essence)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Moksha
• Ashrama
• Darshana
• Jnana
• Karma

FAQs

What is the importance of jñāna (knowledge) in the Garuda Purana for liberation?

This verse states that liberation is not produced by social stage, philosophical affiliation, or actions; it is gained through jñāna alone—inner realization of truth.

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

While the Garuda Purana details after-death states and ritual supports, this teaching emphasizes that the final release from all such cycles comes from knowledge, not from external identity or mere deeds.

What is a practical application of this wisdom today?

Do your duties and rituals sincerely, but prioritize self-inquiry, ethical purification, and study/meditation aimed at true understanding—since knowledge is presented as the decisive factor for moksha.