Shloka 59

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

Devanagari script

किमायासपराः केचिद्व्रतचर्यादिसंयुताः / अज्ञानसंवृतात्मानः सञ्चरन्ति प्रचारकाः

Transliteration

kimāyāsaparāḥ kecidvratacaryādisaṃyutāḥ / ajñānasaṃvṛtātmānaḥ sañcaranti pracārakāḥ

Translation

ไฉนบางคนจึงหมกมุ่นแต่ความเพียรอันหนักหน่วง มีศีลวัตรและวินัยต่าง ๆ พร้อม แต่จิตภายในถูกอวิชชาปกคลุม แล้วเที่ยวไปในฐานะผู้เทศนา

Word by Word

• किम्: what?
• किम्: Prashna (प्रश्न/interrogative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन; प्रश्नार्थक

• आयासपराः: devoted to exertion (mere toil)
• आयासपराः: Visheshana (विशेषण/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आयासपर (प्रातिपदिक; आयास + पर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (आयासे पराः/आयासपराः)

• केचित्: some (people)
• केचित्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; अनिश्चितवाचक (indefinite pronoun)

• व्रतचर्यादिसंयुताः: endowed with vows, observances, etc.
• व्रतचर्यादिसंयुताः: Visheshana (विशेषण/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्रतचर्यादिसंयुत (प्रातिपदिक; व्रत + चर्या + आदि + संयुत)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (व्रत-चर्या-आदि-भिः संयुताः)

• अज्ञानसंवृतात्मानः: whose selves are covered by ignorance
• अज्ञानसंवृतात्मानः: Visheshana (विशेषण/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अज्ञानसंवृतात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक; अज्ञान + संवृत + आत्मन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (अज्ञानेन संवृताः आत्मानः)

• सञ्चरन्ति: wander about
• सञ्चरन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया/verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद; उपसर्गः—सम्

• प्रचारकाः: preachers, propagators
• प्रचारकाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रचारक (प्रातिपदिक; प्र + चर् + ण्वुल्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; कर्तृवाचक-प्रातिपदिक (agent noun)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Austerities, vows, and outward discipline are hollow when the self is covered by ignorance; preaching without inner realization is misdirected effort.

Vedantic Theme: Primacy of inner knowledge and purification over external observance; critique of karma-kāṇḍa/vrata when divorced from jñāna and sincerity.

Application: Before teaching others, cultivate self-knowledge and humility; verify that practices reduce ego and ignorance; seek guidance and self-examination.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: hasya

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: condemnation of dambha and false teachers; emphasis on inner transformation; Garuda Purana: repeated insistence that knowledge/devotion must accompany observances

Characters & Entities

• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of inner knowledge (jñāna) versus vows (vrata) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse critiques practice done as mere exertion: vows and disciplines are not condemned, but when the self is “covered by ignorance,” outward observance and preaching fail to produce true spiritual clarity.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey after death in the Garuda Purana?

In the Preta Kanda’s broader message, what supports the soul is genuine dharma and awareness, not performative religiosity; ignorance can keep one bound to confusion even if one appears outwardly pious.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Keep rituals and vows, but pair them with self-examination, humility, and learning; avoid preaching for status, and prioritize reducing ignorance through right understanding and ethical living.