Shloka 23

Brahma-vidyā through Yoga: Restraint, Pranava Japa, and Samādhi leading to Mokṣa

Devanagari script

पापक्षये देवतानां प्रीतिरिन्द्रियसंयमः / जपध्यानयुतो गर्भो विपरीतस्त्वगर्भकः

Transliteration

pāpakṣaye devatānāṃ prītirindriyasaṃyamaḥ / japadhyānayuto garbho viparītastvagarbhakaḥ

Translation

عند فناءِ الآثام تَرضى الدِّيفات وتخضعُ الحواسّ للضبط. والحَملُ المصحوبُ بالجَپا والتأمّل محمودٌ مبارك؛ أمّا إذا كان على الضدّ فإنّه يفضي إلى عاقبةٍ عقيمةٍ لا ثمرَ لها.

Word by Word

• पापक्षये: upon the destruction of sin
• पापक्षये: Adhikarana (Condition/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक) + क्षय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (‘पापस्य क्षयः’); सप्तमी—निमित्त/अधिकरणार्थे (on the destruction of sin)

• देवतानाम्: of the deities
• देवतानाम्: Shashthi-Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• प्रीतिः: pleasure/satisfaction
• प्रीतिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रीति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• इन्द्रियसंयमः: restraint of the senses
• इन्द्रियसंयमः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक) + संयम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (‘इन्द्रियाणां संयमः’ = restraint of the senses)

• जपध्यानयुतः: endowed with japa and meditation
• जपध्यानयुतः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जप (प्रातिपदिक) + ध्यान (प्रातिपदिक) + युत (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘युत’ (क्त) = endowed/connected; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (‘जपध्यानाभ्यां युतः’)

• गर्भः: (spiritual) ‘garbha’ state/seed (term used here)
• गर्भः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गर्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• विपरीतः: opposite/reverse
• विपरीतः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विपरीत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• तु: but
• तु: Sambandha (Contrast/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषबोधक-निपात (particle: but)

• अगर्भकः: the ‘agarbhaka’ (without garbha)
• अगर्भकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ (नञ्-उपसर्ग) + गर्भक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; नञ्-समास/नकारार्थ-प्रयोगः (a-garbhaka = without garbha)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Sin-exhaustion leads to deva-prīti and indriya-saṃyama; conception accompanied by japa and dhyāna is auspicious, while the opposite yields barrenness/fruitlessness.

Vedantic Theme: Citta-śuddhi as the basis for sattvic outcomes; alignment of intention (saṅkalpa) and conduct with higher order (ṛta/dharma).

Application: Cultivate ethical living and mental purity; approach major life events (including family planning) with mantra, meditation, and restraint rather than agitation and excess.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.235.22 (japa and dhyāna as yoga means)

Characters & Entities

• Devas

FAQs

What is the importance of pāpa-kṣaya (destruction of sins) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse links pāpa-kṣaya with two signs of inner purification: the Devas’ satisfaction (supportive divine order) and indriya-saṃyama (stable control of the senses), showing that ethical purification produces tangible spiritual steadiness.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in practical terms?

Rather than describing geography of the afterlife here, it describes the mechanism of progress: when karmic impurity reduces, the mind and senses become governable, enabling japa and dhyāna—practices that shape one’s destiny and outcomes in life.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Prioritize sense-restraint, regular mantra-japa, and meditation as a purification discipline; the verse presents these as conditions that support auspicious results, while their neglect leads to “viparīta” (contrary) and fruitless outcomes.