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Shloka 66

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

Devanagari script

मृद्भस्मोद्धूलनादेव मुक्ताः स्युर्यदि मानवाः / मृद्भस्मवासी नित्यं श्वा स किं मुक्तो भविष्यति

Transliteration

mṛdbhasmoddhūlanādeva muktāḥ syuryadi mānavāḥ / mṛdbhasmavāsī nityaṃ śvā sa kiṃ mukto bhaviṣyati

Translation

मृद्भस्मोद्धूलनमात्रेण यदि मानवाः मुक्ताः स्युः, तर्हि मृद्भस्मवासी नित्यं श्वा अपि किं मुक्तो भविष्यति?

Word by Word
मृत्-भस्म-उद्धूलनात्from smearing with mud and ash
मृत्-भस्म-उद्धूलनात्:
Apadana (अपादान)
TypeNoun
Rootमृत् (प्रातिपदिक) + भस्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + उद्धूलन (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान), एकवचन; समासः—मृत् च भस्म च इति द्वन्द्व (मृद्भस्म), तयोः उद्धूलनम् इति तत्पुरुष; Ablative singular (from smearing with mud and ash)
एवindeed/only
एव:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव (अव्यय)
Formनिपात (particle) emphatic
मुक्ताःliberated
मुक्ताः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootमुच् (धातु) → मुक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, क्त)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (liberated)
स्युःwould be
स्युः:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootअस् (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; Parasmaipada; ‘would be/might be’
यदिif
यदि:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootयदि (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय (शर्त/conditional conjunction) ‘if’
मानवाःhumans
मानवाः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootमानव (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Nominative plural
मृत्-भस्म-वासीone who lives in/with mud and ash
मृत्-भस्म-वासी:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootमृत् (प्रातिपदिक) + भस्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + वासिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—मृद्भस्म (द्वन्द्व) + वासी (तत्पुरुष: ‘dweller in/with mud and ash’); Nominative singular
नित्यम्always
नित्यम्:
Kala (काल/समय)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootनित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
Formअव्यय (क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण) adverb ‘always’
श्वाa dog
श्वा:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootश्वन् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; irregular stem श्वन् → श्वा (Nom. sg.)
सःthat/he
सः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular
किम्what?/whether
किम्:
Prashna (प्रश्न/प्रश्नार्थ)
TypeNoun
Rootकिम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; interrogative ‘what?/whether’
मुक्तःliberated
मुक्तः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootमुच् (धातु) → मुक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, क्त)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; past participle ‘liberated’
भविष्यतिwill become
भविष्यति:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootभू (धातु)
Formलृट्-लकार (भविष्यत्काल/future), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Parasmaipada; ‘will become’
Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Liberation is not produced by external ash-smearing or dirt-contact; moksha requires inner purification—knowledge, devotion, and ethical restraint.

Vedantic Theme: Aparoksha-jnana and chitta-shuddhi: external symbols cannot substitute for transformation of mind and ignorance-destruction.

Application: Use external disciplines (vibhuti, austerity) only as supports; prioritize truthfulness, non-injury, sense-control, and contemplation of the Self/Vishnu.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: hasya

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.49.65, 2.49.67-69 (series of analogies against externalism)

Characters & Entities
G
Garuda

FAQs

This verse stresses that ash or dirt as an external mark cannot by itself grant moksha; liberation requires inner transformation—right conduct, knowledge, and devotion—beyond mere symbols.

In the Preta Kanda’s broader teaching on post-death consequences, it implies that the soul’s fate is shaped by karma and dharma, not by superficial acts; external ritual without inner virtue does not alter the afterlife trajectory.

Use rituals as supports, not substitutes: combine sacred observances with ethical living, self-control, compassion, and sincere spiritual practice aimed at purification of mind and intention.

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