Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 103
An exposition on the fruits of charity and on entry into a body
Garbhotpatti, Piṇḍa-śarīra, and Antya-kāla-kriyā
बन्धाभावे ममत्वेतु ज्ञानं पुरुषसूक्ततः / यस्ययस्याधिकत्वं तु साधनेष्वेषु काश्यप
bandhābhāve mamatvetu jñānaṃ puruṣasūktataḥ / yasyayasyādhikatvaṃ tu sādhaneṣveṣu kāśyapa
Khi không còn ràng buộc, ý niệm “của ta” cũng tan biến; bấy giờ tri kiến chân thật phát sinh từ lời dạy về Đấng Tối Thượng (Puruṣa). Hỡi Kāśyapa, trong các phương tiện tu tập này, điều nào trội hơn đối với ai thì chính điều ấy trở thành trợ duyên chủ yếu cho người ấy.
Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra; addressing Kāśyapa as a traditional epithet in the transmission)
Concept: Bandha-abhāva leads to the fall of mamakāra; puruṣa-śikṣā yields true knowledge; the dominant sādhana becomes the chief support for that aspirant.
Vedantic Theme: Ahaṅkāra/mamakāra-nivṛtti and puruṣa-jñāna as the basis of liberation; adhikāri-bheda (fitness-based plurality of means).
Application: Identify the strongest practice (bhakti/japa/dāna/tapas/dhyāna) and commit steadily; cultivate non-possessiveness and observe how ‘mine-ness’ fuels bondage.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.32.104-107 (continuation on fruits of observances and microcosm mapping)
FAQs
This verse links liberation to the dropping of mamatva: when bondage is removed, possessiveness naturally dissolves, allowing true knowledge to arise.
It implies that the soul’s freedom is tied to inner detachment and right knowledge of the Supreme Person; the most effective practice is the one that becomes predominant for the seeker’s transformation.
Reduce ‘mine-ness’ through disciplined giving, ethical restraint, and contemplation of the Self/Supreme; choose a primary sadhana that consistently weakens attachment and strengthens clarity.