Shloka 109

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

Devanagari script

न यत्र दाम्भिका यान्ति ज्ञानवैराग्यवर्जिताः / सुधियस्तां गतिं यान्ति तानहं कथयामि ते

Transliteration

na yatra dāmbhikā yānti jñānavairāgyavarjitāḥ / sudhiyastāṃ gatiṃ yānti tānahaṃ kathayāmi te

Translation

జ్ఞానం, వైరాగ్యం లేని దంభికులు చేరని చోటుకు, సుబుద్ధులు ఆ గతిని పొందుతారు; ఆ గమ్యాన్ని నేను నీకు వివరిస్తాను।

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation particle)

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (locative adverb: where)

• दाम्भिकाः: hypocrites
• दाम्भिकाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दाम्भिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; बहुवचन; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative)

• यान्ति: go
• यान्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present); प्रथमपुरुष; बहुवचन

• ज्ञानवैराग्यवर्जिताः: devoid of knowledge and dispassion
• ज्ञानवैराग्यवर्जिताः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञान + वैराग्य + वर्जित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; बहुवचन; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative); (ज्ञान-वैराग्याभ्याम् वर्जिताः = deprived of knowledge and dispassion)

• सुधियः: the wise
• सुधियः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुधी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; बहुवचन; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative)

• ताम्: that
• ताम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; एकवचन; द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative) (गतिम् इत्यस्य विशेषण)

• गतिम्: destination
• गतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; एकवचन; द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative)

• यान्ति: go
• यान्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present); प्रथमपुरुष; बहुवचन

• तान्: them
• तान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; बहुवचन; द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; एकवचन; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative)

• कथयामि: tell
• कथयामि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथय् (धातु; णिजन्त from कथ्)
• Form: लट् (Present); उत्तमपुरुष; एकवचन

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; एकवचन; चतुर्थी (4th/Dative)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Hypocrisy without knowledge and dispassion cannot reach the highest state; the wise (sudhī) attain it; the teacher will describe that destination.

Vedantic Theme: Adhikara (fitness) for moksha: jnana and vairagya as essential qualifications; condemnation of dambha (spiritual pretence).

Application: Audit motives in spiritual practice; cultivate learning (shravana/manana) and dispassion through simplifying desires; seek honest mentorship and self-correction.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.49.106 (buddhi-guided restraint); Garuda Purana 2.49.108 (supreme gati via Om and remembrance)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of jñāna and vairāgya in Garuda Purana?

This verse states that higher spiritual attainment (gati) is reached by the truly wise—those grounded in knowledge and detachment—while hypocritical religiosity without inner transformation does not lead there.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It implies that the soul’s post-death course is not determined by outward show, but by inner qualification—authentic understanding (jñāna) and freedom from clinging (vairāgya)—which enables ascent to a superior destination.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Prioritize sincere practice over display: study dharma with understanding, reduce attachment and ego-driven ritualism, and cultivate ethical living and detachment alongside any funeral or ancestral rites.