Shloka 59

Sat-saṅga, Dharma-Nīti, Karma-Phala, Śauca, and Vairāgya

Overcoming Grief

Devanagari script

यत्र स्नेहो भयं तत्र स्नेहो दुः खस्य भाजनम् / स्नेहमूलानि दुः खानि तस्मिस्त्यक्ते महत्सुखम्

Transliteration

yatra sneho bhayaṃ tatra sneho duḥ khasya bhājanam / snehamūlāni duḥ khāni tasmistyakte mahatsukham

Translation

ที่ใดมีความยึดติด ที่นั่นมีความกลัว; ความยึดติดเป็นภาชนะของทุกข์. ทุกข์มีรากจากความยึดติด; เมื่อสละได้ ย่อมเกิดสุขอันยิ่งใหญ่

Word by Word

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (relative adverb)

• स्नेहः: affection; attachment
• स्नेहः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नेह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• भयम्: fear
• भयम्: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (correlative adverb)

• स्नेहः: affection
• स्नेहः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नेह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• दुःखस्य: of suffering
• दुःखस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुःख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• भाजनम्: a receptacle; cause/container
• भाजनम्: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• स्नेह: affection
• स्नेह: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier within compound)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नेह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासपूर्वपद (compound member)

• मूलानि: roots; sources
• मूलानि: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier within compound)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• स्नेहमूलानि: rooted in affection
• स्नेहमूलानि: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्नेह (प्रातिपदिक) + मूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (Genitive determinative: 'having affection as root'); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन

• दुःखानि: sufferings
• दुःखानि: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुःख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन

• तस्मिन्: in that (state/thing)
• तस्मिन्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• त्यक्ते: when abandoned
• त्यक्ते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative absolute)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय/Past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन; अर्थः 'when (it is) abandoned'

• तस्मिस्त्यक्ते: when that is given up
• तस्मिस्त्यक्ते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative absolute)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम) + त्यक्त (क्त-कृदन्त from √त्यज्)
• Form: सप्तमी-सम्बन्ध (Locative absolute sense): 'when that is abandoned'

• महत्: great
• महत्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier within compound)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासपूर्वपद (compound member)

• सुखम्: happiness
• सुखम्: Karta (कर्ता/Result)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• महत्सुखम्: great happiness
• महत्सुखम्: Karta (कर्ता/Result)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक) + सुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (descriptive: 'great happiness'); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Sneha (clinging attachment) generates fear and becomes the container of sorrow; abandoning attachment yields great happiness.

Vedantic Theme: Bandha-hetu (cause of bondage) is raga; vairagya dissolves bhaya and duhkha, revealing peace.

Application: Identify primary attachments (status, possessions, relationships as clinging) and practice letting-go: dana, simplification, and equanimity in outcomes.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.113.58 (raga-dvesha and nirvriti); Garuda Purana 1.113.61 (self-mastery as sukha)

FAQs

What is the importance of detachment (vairagya) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that attachment itself produces fear and becomes the basis of sorrow; detachment is therefore presented as a direct means to inner peace and liberation-oriented living.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By identifying attachment as the root of fear and suffering, the verse points the soul’s progress toward freedom as an inner discipline—reducing clinging leads to clarity and steadiness, which supports liberation rather than bondage.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice non-clinging: do your duties with care, but reduce possessiveness and obsessive dependence; this lessens anxiety and grief and cultivates stable happiness.