मोक्ष
Moksha
mokṣa
In simple words
Moksha means release: freedom from the cycle of birth and death and from the suffering it involves. Almost every Indian tradition aims at some form of liberation, but they describe it very differently.
What is it?
Moksha is the highest human goal in most Indian systems, beyond the pursuits of pleasure, wealth and duty. Some traditions describe it as the realisation of what one already is (Advaita), others as eternal loving service of God (Vishishtadvaita, Dvaita), others as isolation of consciousness from matter (Sankhya-Yoga) or the soul's rise, freed from karmic matter, to the summit of the universe (Jainism). Buddhism's corresponding goal is nirvana. Traditions also debate whether liberation is possible while living (jivanmukti).
Scholar’s note
Terms vary by school: kaivalya (Sankhya, Yoga, Jainism), apavarga (Nyaya), mukti, nirvana. Nyaya's liberation is the cessation of all qualities including pleasure, criticised by Vedantins. Advaita defends jivanmukti; Vishishtadvaita largely denies it, holding that liberation follows death. Madhva holds that bliss in liberation differs between souls according to intrinsic nature.How its meaning differs
Liberation is not attained but recognised: knowing oneself as Brahman removes ignorance, and one may be liberated while still living.
Liberation is reaching Vaikuntha after death and enjoying communion with and service of the Lord, with full knowledge, while remaining distinct.
The liberated soul enjoys bliss according to its own nature in God's presence; difference from God remains eternally.
Liberation is kaivalya — isolation of purusha from prakriti once their difference is fully discerned.
Liberation (apavarga) is the absolute cessation of pain, achieved through true knowledge of the categories of reality.
Freed of all karmic matter, the soul rises to the top of the universe and abides in infinite knowledge, perception, bliss and energy.
Mukti is union with the divine through grace and remembrance of the Name, attainable while living as a householder (jivan mukat).
In the Bhagavad Gita — as Sadhak Sanjivani explains it
Summary based on Sadhak Sanjivaniसाधक-संजीवनीपर आधारित सारSwamiji says it looks as though bondage were natural and liberation had to be achieved, but in truth liberation is natural and bondage is made (13.31). The self is already free; only attachment keeps us from experiencing that freedom (6.1). Liberation does not come from giving up things but from giving up desire (12.12). Great souls who reach God do not return to rebirth, which is 'the home of sorrow' (8.15). The Gita's ways to it include knowledge (5.16), action without attachment (3.19) and, as the most secret teaching, surrender: 'I will free you from all sins' (18.66). Beyond liberation, Swamiji notes, lies love (prema) for God, which comes to the seeker who does not rest content with liberation (18.54).
स्वामीजी कहते हैं कि दीखता तो ऐसा है कि बन्धन स्वाभाविक है और मुक्ति कृतिसाध्य, पर वास्तवमें मुक्ति स्वाभाविक है और बन्धन कृतिसाध्य (१३।३१)। जीव स्वत: मुक्त है ही, केवल रागके कारण उस मुक्तिका अनुभव नहीं होता (६।१)। मुक्ति वस्तुके त्यागसे नहीं, इच्छाके त्यागसे होती है (१२।१२)। भगवान्को प्राप्त महात्मा दु:खालय पुनर्जन्मको प्राप्त नहीं होते (८।१५)। गीतामें इसके मार्ग हैं — ज्ञान (५।१६), आसक्तिरहित कर्म (३।१९), और सबसे गोपनीय — शरणागति: 'मैं तुझे सब पापोंसे मुक्त कर दूँगा' (१८।६६)। स्वामीजी बताते हैं कि जिस साधकको मुक्तिमें सन्तोष नहीं होता, उसे मुक्तिके बाद प्रेम (पराभक्ति) प्राप्त होता है (१८।५४)।
दीखता तो ऐसा ही है कि बन्धन स्वत:-स्वाभाविक है और मुक्ति कृतिसाध्य है, पर वास्तवमें मुक्ति स्वत:-स्वाभाविक है और बन्धन कृतिसाध्य है।Where it appears in the Gita
Do your duty, always unattached
निरन्तर आसक्तिरहित होकर कर्तव्य कर
तस्मादसक्त: सततं कार्यं कर्म समाचर।
Therefore, constantly free of attachment, do well the work that is your duty — by acting without attachment a person attains the Supreme.
इसलिये निरन्तर आसक्तिरहित होकर कर्तव्य-कर्मका भलीभाँति आचरण कर; आसक्तिरहित होकर कर्म करनेवाला मनुष्य परमात्माको प्राप्त हो जाता है।
5.24योऽन्त:सुखोऽन्तरारामस्तथान्तज्र्योतिरेव य:।
जो मनुष्य (केवल) परमात्मामें सुखवाला (और) (केवल) परमात्मामें रमण करनेवाला है तथा जो केवल परमात्मामें ज्ञानवाला है, वह ब्रह्ममें अपनी स्थितिका अनुभव करनेवाला (ब्रह्मरूप बना हुआ) सांख्ययोगी निर्वाण ब्रह्मको प्राप्त होता है।
6.1अनाश्रित: कर्मफलं कार्यं कर्म करोति य:।
कर्मफलका आश्रय न लेकर जो कर्तव्य कर्म करता है, वही संन्यासी तथा योगी है और (केवल) अग्निका त्याग करनेवाला (संन्यासी) नहीं होता तथा (केवल) क्रियाओंका त्याग करनेवाला (योगी) नहीं होता।
8.15मामुपेत्य पुनर्जन्म दु:खालयमशाश्वतम्।
महात्मालोग मुझे प्राप्त करके दु:खालय अर्थात् दु:खोंके घर (और) अशाश्वत अर्थात् निरन्तर बदलने-वाले पुनर्जन्मको प्राप्त नहीं होते; (क्योंकि वे) परम सिद्धिको प्राप्त हो गये हैं अर्थात् उनको परम प्रेमकी प्राप्ति हो गयी है।
12.12Better than meditation is giving up the fruit — peace follows at once
ध्यानसे कर्मफलत्याग श्रेष्ठ है—त्यागसे तत्काल शान्ति
श्रेयो हि ज्ञानमभ्यासाज्ज्ञानाद्ध्यानं विशिष्यते।
Giving up desire for the fruits of all actions is not the lowest means; it brings supreme peace immediately.
सब कर्मोंके फलकी इच्छाका त्याग निम्न साधन नहीं है; उससे तत्काल परमशान्ति मिलती है।
13.31अनादित्वान्निर्गुणत्वात्परमात्मायमव्यय: ।
हे कुन्तीनन्दन! यह (पुरुष स्वयं) अनादि होनेसे (और) गुणोंसे रहित होनेसे अविनाशी परमात्मस्वरूप ही है। यह शरीरमें रहता हुआ भी न करता है (और) न लिप्त होता है।
18.54ब्रह्मभूत: प्रसन्नात्मा न शोचति न काङ्क्षति।
(वह) ब्रह्मरूप बना हुआ प्रसन्न मनवाला साधक न तो (किसीके लिये) शोक करता है (और) न (किसीकी) इच्छा ही करता है। (ऐसा) सम्पूर्ण प्राणियोंमें समभाववाला साधक मेरी पराभक्तिको प्राप्त हो जाता है।
18.66Leave the support of all dharmas and take refuge in Me alone
सब धर्मोंका आश्रय छोड़कर केवल मेरी शरणमें आ
सर्वधर्मान्परित्यज्य मामेकं शरणं व्रज।
Giving up reliance on all dharmas, come to Me alone for refuge. I will free you from all sins; do not grieve.
सम्पूर्ण धर्मोंका आश्रय छोड़कर केवल मेरी शरणमें आ जा; मैं तुझे सब पापोंसे मुक्त कर दूँगा, चिन्ता मत कर।
Where else it appears
Follow this idea
Trace the idea from one source to the next.
- 1ConceptसंसारSamsara — the cycle of rebirthWhat one is liberated from: the cycle of rebirth.
- 2Textमुण्डकोपनिषद्Mundaka UpanishadContrasts lower (ritual) knowledge with the higher knowledge that frees.
- 3Gita verseBhagavad Gita 5.24The one whose happiness is within attains the freedom of Brahman (brahma-nirvana).
- 4Gita verseBhagavad Gita 18.66The Gita's final promise of release to the one who takes refuge.
- 5Traditionअद्वैत वेदान्तAdvaita VedantaLiberation as recognising what you already are.
- 6Traditionजैन दर्शनJain philosophyLiberation as the soul freed from karmic matter.
- 7Conceptनिर्वाणNirvanaThe Buddhist parallel and its differences.
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