Shloka 33
Jīva-yonis (84 Lakhs), Rarity of Human Birth, Sense-Restraint, Craving, and Śraddhā-based Dharma
अकिञ्चना हि मुनयः श्रद्धावन्तो दिवं गताः / अश्रद्धया हुतं दत्तं तपस्तप्तं कृतं च यत् / असदित्युच्यते पक्षिन्प्रेत्य चेह न तत्फलम्
akiñcanā hi munayaḥ śraddhāvanto divaṃ gatāḥ / aśraddhayā hutaṃ dattaṃ tapastaptaṃ kṛtaṃ ca yat / asadityucyate pakṣinpretya ceha na tatphalam
अकिञ्चना हि मुनयः श्रद्धावन्तो दिवं गताः। अश्रद्धया हुतं दत्तं तपस्तप्तं कृतं च यत्, असदिति उच्यते पक्षिन्; प्रेत्य चेह न तत्फलम्॥
Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)
Concept: Śraddhā is the decisive qualifier that makes dāna/homa/tapas real and fruit-bearing; without śraddhā, actions are ‘asat’ and yield no fruit here or after death.
Vedantic Theme: Antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi and intention (bhāva) as the inner determinant of karma-phala; outer act without inner assent is ineffective.
Application: Perform worship, charity, and discipline with sincere faith and right understanding; cultivate simplicity/akincanatā and steadiness of intention before undertaking rites.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: repeated emphasis that śraddhā empowers śrāddha and dāna (general motif across Pretakalpa)
FAQs
This verse states that śraddhā is the decisive factor that makes spiritual acts effective; with faith, even renunciant sages attain higher realms, while acts done without faith become ‘asat’ (ineffective).
It emphasizes that post-death outcomes depend on the inner quality behind actions: offerings, charity, and austerity performed without śraddhā do not generate merit, so they do not support the soul’s favorable progress after departing the body.
Perform rituals, charity, and disciplines with sincerity and reverence—prioritizing inner intent over mere form—so that actions become meaningful ethically and spiritually.