Shloka 99

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

Devanagari script

तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन सर्वावस्थासु सर्वदा / तत्त्वनिष्ठो भवेत्तार्क्ष्य यदीच्छेन्मोक्षमात्मनः

Transliteration

tasmātsarvaprayatnena sarvāvasthāsu sarvadā / tattvaniṣṭho bhavettārkṣya yadīcchenmokṣamātmanaḥ

Translation

Vì thế, với mọi nỗ lực, trong mọi hoàn cảnh và mọi thời khắc, hỡi Tārkṣya (Garuda), người nên an trụ vững chắc nơi Tattva—tri kiến chân thật về thực tại—nếu mong cầu giải thoát (mokṣa) cho chính mình.

Word by Word

• tasmāt: therefore
• tasmāt: Hetu (हेतु/Reason)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तस्मात्-इत्यव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः; अपादानार्थे (ablatival adverbial: 'therefore/from that')

• sarva-prayatnena: with all effort
• sarva-prayatnena: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + prayatna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मधारय: 'with complete effort'

• sarva-avasthāsu: in all conditions
• sarva-avasthāsu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + avasthā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), सप्तमी (Locative/अधिकरण), बहुवचन (Plural); कर्मधारय: 'in all states/conditions'

• sarvadā: always
• sarvadā: Kāla (काल/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sarvadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time): 'always'

• tattva-niṣṭhaḥ: steadfast in truth
• tattva-niṣṭhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tattva (प्रातिपदिक) + niṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष: 'steadfast in truth'

• bhavet: should become
• bhavet: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• tārkṣya: O Tārkṣya (Garuda)
• tārkṣya: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tārkṣya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन (Singular)

• yadi: if
• yadi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/शर्त)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadi (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्तार्थक-अव्यय (conditional conjunction): 'if'

• icchet: should desire
• icchet: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: iṣ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• mokṣam: liberation
• mokṣam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mokṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन (Singular)

• ātmanaḥ: of oneself
• ātmanaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Tārkṣya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Moksha requires tattva-nishtha—steady abidance in right knowledge/Reality—maintained through all conditions by total effort.

Vedantic Theme: Nididhyasana and jnana-nishtha as the stabilizing of realization; constancy across avasthas (waking/dream/sleep; pleasure/pain) as mark of liberation-oriented life.

Application: Adopt a daily discipline of remembrance/inquiry, keep a 'tattva-check' during activities (Who am I? What is real?), and return to steadiness after disturbances; align life choices with liberation as the primary aim.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.49.95-98 (preconditions and the insufficiency of mere practice without realization)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of tattva-niṣṭhā (steadfastness in truth) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that liberation (mokṣa) is supported by constant establishment in tattva—right knowledge of reality—maintained at all times and in every situation.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana context?

In the Preta Kanda’s after-death framework, the teaching emphasizes inner preparedness: steady truth-knowledge and dharmic resolve are presented as the decisive orientation for liberation beyond post-mortem experiences.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice consistent self-discipline and truth-oriented living—study, reflection, and ethical conduct—so that spiritual clarity remains stable regardless of changing circumstances.