Shloka 24

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

Devanagari script

व्याघ्रीवास्ते जरा चायुर्याति भिन्नघटाम्बुवत् / निघ्नन्ति रिपुवद्रोगास्तस्माच्छ्रेयः समभ्यसेत

Transliteration

vyāghrīvāste jarā cāyuryāti bhinnaghaṭāmbuvat / nighnanti ripuvadrogāstasmācchreyaḥ samabhyaseta

Translation

بڑھاپا ببر شیرنی کی طرح گھات میں ہے، اور عمر ٹوٹے گھڑے کے پانی کی طرح بہہ جاتی ہے۔ بیماریاں دشمنوں کی طرح گرا دیتی ہیں؛ اس لیے اعلیٰ ترین بھلائی کی سعی کرنی چاہیے۔

Word by Word

• व्याघ्री: a tigress
• व्याघ्री: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्याघ्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपमान (as subject of simile)

• इव: like/as
• इव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमावाचक-अव्यय (simile particle)

• आस्ते: stands/abides
• आस्ते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √आस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• जरा: old age
• जरा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जरा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृपद

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (conjunction)

• आयुः: life-span
• आयुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आयुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृपद

• याति: goes/passes away
• याति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √या (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• भिन्नघटाम्बुवत्: like (water) in a broken pot
• भिन्नघटाम्बुवत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भिन्न-घट-अम्बु-वत् (प्रातिपदिक: भिन्न + घट + अम्बु + वत्)
• Form: वत्-प्रत्ययान्त उपमावाचक-अव्यय (like ...); तत्पुरुष-आधारः: भिन्नः घटः यस्मिन् तदम्बु (water in a broken pot) + वत्

• निघ्नन्ति: strike down/kill
• निघ्नन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि√हन् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• रिपुवत्: like an enemy
• रिपुवत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: रिपु-वत् (प्रातिपदिक: रिपु + वत्)
• Form: वत्-प्रत्ययान्त उपमावाचक-अव्यय (like an enemy)

• रोगाः: diseases
• रोगाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्तृपद

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पञ्चमी, एकवचन; हेत्वर्थे (therefore)

• श्रेयः: the good / the better (spiritual good)
• श्रेयः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रेयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मपद (what is to be practiced)

• समभ्यसेत्: should practice
• समभ्यसेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-अभि-√अस् (धातु) [अभ्यस्यति]
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Because time, aging, and disease are relentless, one should practice śreyas (the highest good) with diligence.

Vedantic Theme: Anityatā (impermanence) generating vairāgya and mumukṣutva; choosing śreyas over preyas.

Application: Adopt a steady sadhana schedule now—devotion, meditation, ethical living—without waiting for ‘better conditions’.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: frequent memento-mori imagery to spur dharma and devotion; Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: helplessness after death reinforces urgency before death

Characters & Entities

• Old age (Jarā)
• Diseases (Rogāḥ)

FAQs

What is the importance of śreyaḥ (the Highest Good) in Garuda Purana?

This verse frames śreyaḥ as the urgent spiritual priority because aging and disease can overpower a person at any time; therefore one should practice what leads to lasting welfare rather than temporary pleasures.

How does this verse relate to the Garuda Purana’s broader teaching on death and the afterlife?

In the Preta Kanda, the after-death journey is difficult and time is limited; this verse warns that life rapidly drains away, so one should prepare through dharmic living and spiritual discipline before the body becomes weak.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat health and time as uncertain: reduce harmful habits, prioritize daily prayer/meditation and ethical conduct, and regularly perform duties that build long-term spiritual welfare (śreyaḥ).