Shloka 81

An exposition on the fruits of charity and on entry into a body

Garbhotpatti, Piṇḍa-śarīra, and Antya-kāla-kriyā

Devanagari script

नास्ति पक्षिन्सुखं किञ्चित्क्षेत्रे दुः खशताकुले / विनतासुत मोक्षाय यतितव्यं ततो नरैः

Transliteration

nāsti pakṣinsukhaṃ kiñcitkṣetre duḥ khaśatākule / vinatāsuta mokṣāya yatitavyaṃ tato naraiḥ

Translation

హే పక్షీ (గరుడా)! వందల దుఃఖాలతో నిండిన ఈ లోకక్షేత్రంలో కించిత్తు కూడా సుఖం లేదు. కాబట్టి, హే వినతాసుతా, మనుష్యులు మోక్షార్థం శ్రద్ధగా ప్రయత్నించాలి.

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negation particle) — ‘not’

• अस्ति: exists
• अस्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन — ‘is/exists’

• पक्षिन्: O bird
• पक्षिन्: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पक्षिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन — ‘O bird’ (addressing Garuḍa)

• सुखम्: happiness
• सुखम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन — ‘happiness’

• किञ्चित्: any (at all)
• किञ्चित्: Sambandha (Quantifier/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किञ्चित् (सर्वनाम/अव्ययप्राय)
• Form: अव्यय (indefinite particle/adverbial) — ‘any/at all’

• क्षेत्रे: in the realm
• क्षेत्रे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन — ‘in the field/realm’ (i.e., in this world)

• दुःखशताकुले: filled with hundreds of sorrows
• दुःखशताकुले: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुःख (प्रातिपदिक) + शत (प्रातिपदिक) + आकुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन — ‘in (a place) agitated by hundreds of sorrows’ (दुःखानां शतानि तैः आकुलम्)

• विनतासुत: O son of Vinatā
• विनतासुत: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विनता (प्रातिपदिक) + सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन — ‘O son of Vinatā’

• मोक्षाय: for liberation
• मोक्षाय: Sampradana (Purpose/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन — ‘for liberation’

• यतितव्यम्: must be striven for
• यतितव्यम्: Kriya (Obligation/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: यत् (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त भावे/कर्मणि कृदन्त (gerundive/obligation), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन — ‘one must strive’

• ततः: therefore
• ततः: Hetu (Reason/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (causal/ablatival adverb) — ‘therefore/from that’

• नरैः: by people
• नरैः: Karana (Agent-instrumental/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन — ‘by men/people’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Worldly existence offers no lasting happiness; therefore humans must exert themselves for liberation.

Vedantic Theme: Samsara as duhkha; moksha as paramapurushartha; necessity of purushartha-prayatna (effort) toward release.

Application: Prioritize sadhana: daily japa, satsanga, study, ethical living; reduce distractions; set a disciplined routine oriented to liberation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: realm/field of experience

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.32.78–80 (build-up of duhkha and samsara metaphor leading to this moksha injunction)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda (Vinatā-suta)

FAQs

What is the importance of moksha in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames worldly existence as overwhelmingly sorrow-filled and therefore presents moksha as the highest and most practical goal for humans.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By emphasizing the pervasive misery of samsara, it motivates the soul’s turning toward liberation—implying that mere worldly pursuits cannot provide lasting well-being.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate detachment from fleeting pleasures, live ethically (dharma), and prioritize spiritual disciplines—such as devotion, self-control, and remembrance of the divine—aimed at liberation.