Shloka 97

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

Devanagari script

यावन्नो मनसः स्थैर्यं न यावच्छास्त्रचिन्तनम् / यावन्न गुरुकारुण्यं तावत्तत्त्वकथा कुतः

Transliteration

yāvanno manasaḥ sthairyaṃ na yāvacchāstracintanam / yāvanna gurukāruṇyaṃ tāvattattvakathā kutaḥ

Translation

只要心未得安住，只要未能省思诸论典（śāstra），只要未蒙上师之悲悯与加持——在此之前，怎能有关于实相（tattva）的真实开示？

Word by Word

• yāvat: as long as / until
• yāvat: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/अवधि-निर्देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yāvat (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक-निबद्ध)
• Form: अव्यय; काल-परिमाण/सीमा-वाचक (limit/extent: 'as long as')

• naḥ: of us / our
• naḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; षष्ठी (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन (Plural) — 'of us/our'

• manasaḥ: of the mind
• manasaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), षष्ठी (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन (Singular)

• sthairyam: steadiness
• sthairyam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sthairya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular)

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negative particle)

• yāvat: as long as
• yāvat: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/अवधि-निर्देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yāvat (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक-निबद्ध)
• Form: अव्यय; सीमा-वाचक (extent: 'as long as')

• śāstra-cintanam: reflection on scripture
• śāstra-cintanam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śāstra (प्रातिपदिक) + cintana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): 'thinking of/over scriptures'

• yāvat: as long as
• yāvat: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/अवधि-निर्देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yāvat (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक-निबद्ध)
• Form: अव्यय; सीमा-वाचक (extent)

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negative particle)

• guru-kāruṇyam: the guru’s compassion
• guru-kāruṇyam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guru (प्रातिपदिक) + kāruṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'compassion of the guru'

• tāvat: so long / then
• tāvat: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/परिणाम-निर्देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tāvat (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तावत्-शब्दः (correlative: 'so long/then')

• tattva-kathā: talk of truth
• tattva-kathā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tattva (प्रातिपदिक) + kathā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'discourse about truth'

• kutaḥ: from where? / how possible?
• kutaḥ: Hetu/Prashna (हेतु/प्रश्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kutaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय (interrogative adverb): 'whence/how'

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Tattva-katha requires (1) steadiness of mind, (2) sustained shastra-chintana, and (3) guru-karunya/kripa; without these, discourse on Reality remains ineffective.

Vedantic Theme: Shravana–manana–nididhyasana supported by shama and guru-upadesha; grace as the catalyst for direct realization.

Application: Establish daily meditation for steadiness, study a pramana text with guidance, seek a competent teacher, and cultivate humility and service to invite guru’s compassion.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.49.95-96 (impediments); Garuda Purana 2.49.98 (rituals and learning without realization); Garuda Purana 2.49.99 (tattva-nishtha for moksha)

Characters & Entities

• Guru
• Shastra

FAQs

What is the importance of guru-kāruṇya (guru’s grace) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that without the guru’s compassion/grace, genuine understanding and teaching of tattva (ultimate truth) does not properly arise, even if one attempts spiritual discussion.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey and after-death teachings in the Garuda Purana?

Preta Kanda emphasizes right knowledge to overcome fear and confusion about death and the afterlife; this verse frames the prerequisites for such right knowledge—mental steadiness, śāstra-reflection, and guru’s grace.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate daily mental steadiness (japa/meditation), study authoritative texts with reflection, and seek guidance with humility—so spiritual understanding becomes transformative rather than merely intellectual.