Shloka 22

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

Devanagari script

आत्मैव यदि नात्मानमहीतेभ्यो निवारयेत् / को ऽन्यो हितकरस्तस्मादात्मानं सुखयिष्यति

Transliteration

ātmaiva yadi nātmānamahītebhyo nivārayet / ko 'nyo hitakarastasmādātmānaṃ sukhayiṣyati

Translation

Nếu chính mình không tự ngăn mình khỏi điều gây hại, thì còn ai khác—thật sự đem lợi ích—có thể làm cho người ấy được an lạc?

Word by Word

• आत्मा: the self
• आत्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्तृपद (subject)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; एवकारः (emphasis)

• यदि: if
• यदि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्बन्धबोधक-अव्यय; शर्तार्थक (conditional)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक निपात (negation particle)

• आत्मानम्: oneself
• आत्मानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मपद (object)

• अहीतेभ्यः: from harms / from what is not beneficial
• अहीतेभ्यः: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (अहितम्), पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), बहुवचन; अपादान (source/avoidance)

• निवारयेत्: should restrain/keep back
• निवारयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि√वृ (धातु) [निवारयति—णिच् causative]
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; णिच् (causative) प्रयोगः

• कः: who?
• कः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक (interrogative)

• अन्यः: other
• अन्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier) कः इत्यस्य

• हितकरः: beneficial / doing good
• हितकरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हितकर (प्रातिपदिक: हित + कर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण; तत्पुरुषः (हितं करोति इति)

• तस्मात्: therefore/from that
• तस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; हेत्वर्थे (therefore/from that)

• आत्मानम्: oneself
• आत्मानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मपद

• सुखयिष्यति: will make happy
• सुखयिष्यति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सुखय् (धातु) [सुखयति—णिच् causative]
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; णिच् (causative)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Only the self can restrain the self from harmful tendencies; self-governance is the root of happiness.

Vedantic Theme: Antahkaraṇa-niyama and viveka: the mind must be checked by buddhi; external saviors cannot replace inner discipline.

Application: Practice daily self-regulation: avoid known triggers, cultivate sattva, keep vows, and use reflection before action.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: repeated counsel on self-restraint as protection against post-mortem suffering

Characters & Entities

• Atman (Self)

FAQs

What is the importance of self-restraint in the Garuda Purana?

This verse teaches that personal welfare begins with one’s own restraint from harmful actions; no external helper can replace inner discipline in shaping happiness and karmic outcomes.

How does this verse relate to karma and post-death consequences?

By urging restraint from harmful conduct, it implies that avoiding pāpa (demerit) is primarily self-driven, which directly affects one’s experiences after death as described in the Preta Kanda.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Pause before actions that harm oneself or others, choose dharmic alternatives, and build daily habits of self-regulation—because lasting well-being cannot be outsourced.