History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v7.c95.98

v7.c95.98

In classical Sanskrit several words are employed to describe the state of liberation. The Amarakośa regards mukti, kaivalya, nirvāṇa, śreyas, niḥśreyasa, amṛta, mokṣa and apavarga as synonyms. Mukti, mokṣa, and amṛta (or amṛtatva) are frequently employed in the Upaniṣads and the Gītā. They refer to the state of Salvation or Liberation from different points of view. Man is liable to have hankerings and to birth and death, therefore when the soul becomes free from that cycle and realizes *brahma* it is said that he becomes immortal or secures immortality. Vide Bṛ. Up. VI. 4. 7 and 14, V. 15-17 (Vidyayāmṛtamaśnute), Chān. Up. II. 23. 2 (he who is firmly grounded in *brahma* attains immortality), Kaṭha Up. VI. 2 and 9, Śvet. Up.