Shloka 118

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

Devanagari script

सन्देहो मे महान्नष्टो भवद्वाक्यविरोचनात् / इत्युक्त्वा विष्णुमामन्त्र्य स गतः कश्यपाश्रमम्

Transliteration

sandeho me mahānnaṣṭo bhavadvākyavirocanāt / ityuktvā viṣṇumāmantrya sa gataḥ kaśyapāśramam

Translation

“ความสงสัยอันใหญ่หลวงของข้าพเจ้าถูกขจัดด้วยถ้อยคำอันสว่างไสวของพระองค์แล้ว” กล่าวดังนี้แล้ว เขากราบทูลลาพระวิษณุด้วยความเคารพ และไปยังอาศรมของกัศยปะ

Word by Word

• सन्देहः: doubt
• सन्देहः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्देह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन

• मे: my
• मे: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन; enclitic pronoun

• महान्: great
• महान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifies सन्देहः)

• नष्टः: destroyed/removed
• नष्टः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (Past Passive Participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि-भाव (state/result)

• भवत्: your
• भवत्: Samasa-anga (समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive) sense in compound; honorific 'your' as first member

• वाक्य: statement/words
• वाक्य: Samasa-anga (समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रातिपदिक (as compound member)

• विरोचनात्: from the illumination/clarification
• विरोचनात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विरोचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative), एकवचन; हेत्वर्थ (cause)

• भवद्वाक्यविरोचनात्: due to the clarifying power of your words
• भवद्वाक्यविरोचनात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् + वाक्य + विरोचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative), एकवचन; हेत्वर्थ

• इति: thus
• इति: Vacana-paryavasana (वचन-पर्यवसान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरण-समाप्तिसूचक (quotative particle)

• उक्त्वा: having said
• उक्त्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund), पूर्वकाल (having said)

• विष्णुम्: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन

• आमन्त्र्य: having addressed / having taken leave
• आमन्त्र्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + मन्त्र् (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्/क्त्वान्त-समकक्ष अव्यय (Gerund), पूर्वकाल; ‘having addressed/taken leave of’

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन

• गतः: went
• गतः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (Past Active/PPP in intransitive), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; गत्यर्थ-क्रिया

• कश्यप: Kaśyapa
• कश्यप: Samasa-anga (समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कश्यप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-सम्बन्धार्थ (as first member in compound)

• आश्रमम्: hermitage
• आश्रमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आश्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; गन्तव्य (destination)

• कश्यपाश्रमम्: Kaśyapa's hermitage
• कश्यपाश्रमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कश्यप + आश्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narration describing the interlocutor’s response to Lord Viṣṇu)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Sandeha (doubt) is removed by the ‘virocana’ (illumining clarity) of the Lord’s words; knowledge culminates in respectful conduct.

Vedantic Theme: Pramāṇa and prasāda: śāstra/īśvara-vākya dispels avidyā-born doubt; niścaya enables steady practice.

Application: When confused, seek clear instruction from reliable sources; verify by reflection; then act with humility and consistency rather than remaining in debate.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ashrama

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.49.117 (Garuda bows after hearing); Garuda Purana 2.49.115 (hearing with jnana-vairagya leads to moksha)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Kashyapa

FAQs

What is the importance of removing doubt in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights that clear spiritual instruction (here, Viṣṇu’s words) dispels confusion, preparing the listener to act correctly in dharma-related matters discussed in the Preta Kanda.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: it marks a narrative pivot—after receiving authoritative teaching, the listener proceeds onward (to Kaśyapa’s āśrama), mirroring how right knowledge guides one’s next steps in rites and conduct connected with death and the afterlife.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Seek reliable guidance, clarify doubts before performing important duties (ritual or ethical), and act with respect and humility toward teachers and sacred instruction.