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Shloka 66

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

Devanagari script

मृद्भस्मोद्धूलनादेव मुक्ताः स्युर्यदि मानवाः / मृद्भस्मवासी नित्यं श्वा स किं मुक्तो भविष्यति

Transliteration

mṛdbhasmoddhūlanādeva muktāḥ syuryadi mānavāḥ / mṛdbhasmavāsī nityaṃ śvā sa kiṃ mukto bhaviṣyati

Translation

اگر صرف مٹی اور بھسم مل لینے سے ہی انسان مکتی پا لے، تو جو کتا ہمیشہ مٹی اور بھسم میں رہتا ہے—کیا وہ بھی مکتی پا جائے گا؟

Word by Word
मृत्-भस्म-उद्धूलनात्from smearing with mud and ash
मृत्-भस्म-उद्धूलनात्:
Apadana (अपादान)
TypeNoun
Rootमृत् (प्रातिपदिक) + भस्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + उद्धूलन (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान), एकवचन; समासः—मृत् च भस्म च इति द्वन्द्व (मृद्भस्म), तयोः उद्धूलनम् इति तत्पुरुष; Ablative singular (from smearing with mud and ash)
एवindeed/only
एव:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव (अव्यय)
Formनिपात (particle) emphatic
मुक्ताःliberated
मुक्ताः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootमुच् (धातु) → मुक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, क्त)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (liberated)
स्युःwould be
स्युः:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootअस् (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; Parasmaipada; ‘would be/might be’
यदिif
यदि:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootयदि (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय (शर्त/conditional conjunction) ‘if’
मानवाःhumans
मानवाः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootमानव (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Nominative plural
मृत्-भस्म-वासीone who lives in/with mud and ash
मृत्-भस्म-वासी:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootमृत् (प्रातिपदिक) + भस्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + वासिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—मृद्भस्म (द्वन्द्व) + वासी (तत्पुरुष: ‘dweller in/with mud and ash’); Nominative singular
नित्यम्always
नित्यम्:
Kala (काल/समय)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootनित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
Formअव्यय (क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण) adverb ‘always’
श्वाa dog
श्वा:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootश्वन् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; irregular stem श्वन् → श्वा (Nom. sg.)
सःthat/he
सः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular
किम्what?/whether
किम्:
Prashna (प्रश्न/प्रश्नार्थ)
TypeNoun
Rootकिम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; interrogative ‘what?/whether’
मुक्तःliberated
मुक्तः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootमुच् (धातु) → मुक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, क्त)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; past participle ‘liberated’
भविष्यतिwill become
भविष्यति:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootभू (धातु)
Formलृट्-लकार (भविष्यत्काल/future), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Parasmaipada; ‘will become’
Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Liberation is not produced by external ash-smearing or dirt-contact; moksha requires inner purification—knowledge, devotion, and ethical restraint.

Vedantic Theme: Aparoksha-jnana and chitta-shuddhi: external symbols cannot substitute for transformation of mind and ignorance-destruction.

Application: Use external disciplines (vibhuti, austerity) only as supports; prioritize truthfulness, non-injury, sense-control, and contemplation of the Self/Vishnu.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: hasya

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.49.65, 2.49.67-69 (series of analogies against externalism)

Characters & Entities
G
Garuda

FAQs

This verse stresses that ash or dirt as an external mark cannot by itself grant moksha; liberation requires inner transformation—right conduct, knowledge, and devotion—beyond mere symbols.

In the Preta Kanda’s broader teaching on post-death consequences, it implies that the soul’s fate is shaped by karma and dharma, not by superficial acts; external ritual without inner virtue does not alter the afterlife trajectory.

Use rituals as supports, not substitutes: combine sacred observances with ethical living, self-control, compassion, and sincere spiritual practice aimed at purification of mind and intention.

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