Shloka 61

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

Devanagari script

एकभुक्तोपवासाद्यैर्नियमैः कायशोषणैः / मूढाः परोक्षमिच्छन्ति मम मायाविमोहिताः

Transliteration

ekabhuktopavāsādyairniyamaiḥ kāyaśoṣaṇaiḥ / mūḍhāḥ parokṣamicchanti mama māyāvimohitāḥ

Translation

Nalinlang ng Aking maya, ang mga hangal ay naghahanap ng hindi nakikita sa pamamagitan ng mga pagtalima tulad ng pagkain ng minsan lamang sa isang araw, pag-aayuno, at iba pang disiplinang nagpapatuyo ng katawan.

Word by Word

• एकभुक्तोपवासाद्यैः: by one-meal fasts, etc.
• एकभुक्तोपवासाद्यैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एकभुक्तोपवासादि (प्रातिपदिक; एक + भुक्त + उपवास + आदि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्व (एकभुक्त-उपवास-आदयः)

• नियमैः: by disciplines/observances
• नियमैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नियम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• कायशोषणैः: by bodily emaciations
• कायशोषणैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कायशोषण (प्रातिपदिक; काय + शोषण)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (कायस्य शोषणम्)

• मूढाः: the deluded (people)
• मूढाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूढ (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त-प्राय; मुह् (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेष्यरूपेण (as substantive: 'the deluded')

• परोक्षम्: the unseen/indirect (goal)
• परोक्षम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परोक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• इच्छन्ति: desire
• इच्छन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया/verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• मायाविमोहिताः: bewildered by my māyā
• मायाविमोहिताः: Visheshana (विशेषण/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मायाविमोहित (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त; माया + वि + मुह् (धातु) + णिच् + क्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (मायया विमोहिताः)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (addressing Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Austerities and bodily regulations (once-a-day eating, fasting, body-drying niyamas) cannot replace direct realization; māyā can divert seekers into indirect, performative striving.

Vedantic Theme: Aparokṣa-jñāna (direct knowledge) is the liberating factor; practices are preparatory when aligned with viveka and devotion, but become bondage when pursued as ends.

Application: Keep disciplines as supportive (health, steadiness, purity) while prioritizing meditation, self-inquiry, and devotion; regularly test whether practice increases clarity and compassion rather than pride or obsession.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.49.60 (ritualism critique); Garuda Purana 2.49.62 (body-punishment not liberation)

Characters & Entities

• Lord Vishnu
• Garuda
• Maya

FAQs

What is the importance of austerity (tapas) in Garuda Purana?

This verse cautions that austerities like fasting are not automatically liberating; without right understanding, they can become misguided efforts driven by delusion (māyā).

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It implies that liberation and right spiritual progress are not achieved merely through physical self-denial; the soul’s true welfare depends on correct knowledge and dharmic orientation rather than body-emaciating vows alone.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice discipline (fasts/vows) with clarity and humility—pair outer observance with ethical living, devotion, and self-knowledge instead of treating bodily hardship as the sole measure of spirituality.