Shloka 39

Mahāyoga: Detachment from ‘I/Mine’, Aṣṭāṅga Practice, Oṁkāra and Aham-Brahmāsmi Contemplation

Devanagari script

प्रणवादिकमन्त्रैश्च जप्यैर्मुक्तिं गता द्विजाः / इन्द्रो ऽपि परमं स्थानं गन्धर्वाप्सरसो वराः

Transliteration

praṇavādikamantraiśca japyairmuktiṃ gatā dvijāḥ / indro 'pi paramaṃ sthānaṃ gandharvāpsaraso varāḥ

Translation

Durch das Japa von Mantras, die mit der Praṇava (Oṁ) beginnen, und anderen für das Japa geeigneten Mantras gelangen die Dvijas (Zweimalgeborenen) zur Befreiung. Selbst Indra erreicht den höchsten Aufenthaltsort, ebenso die erlesenen Gandharvas und Apsaras.

Word by Word

• प्रणवादिकमन्त्रैः: by mantras beginning with praṇava
• प्रणवादिकमन्त्रैः: Karana (Means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रणव + आदि + मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (प्रणव-आदि-मन्त्राः = 'mantras beginning with praṇava')

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात

• जप्यैः: by recitations
• जप्यैः: Karana (Means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जप् (धातु) + य (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (यत्/य-प्रत्यय; 'to be recited'); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन

• मुक्तिम्: liberation
• मुक्तिम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• गताः: having attained
• गताः: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृत् (past participle); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; अर्थः: 'having attained'

• द्विजाः: twice-born (Brahmins)
• द्विजाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• इन्द्रः: Indra
• इन्द्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-निपात (particle: also/even)

• परमम्: supreme
• परमम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण

• स्थानम्: abode/place
• स्थानम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• गन्धर्वाप्सरसः: Gandharvas and Apsarases
• गन्धर्वाप्सरसः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्धर्व + अप्सरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (गन्धर्वाः च अप्सरसः च)

• वराः: excellent
• वराः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण (excellent)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Moksha

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Praṇava (Oṁ) and authorized japa-mantras lead the twice-born to liberation; mantra-sādhana grants access to the supreme abode, surpassing even celestial attainments.

Vedantic Theme: Praṇava as brahma-pratīka; śabda-brahman leading to para-brahman; upāsanā culminating in mokṣa.

Application: Undertake regular praṇava-japa (as per one’s tradition and eligibility), with purity, correct intonation, and steadiness; pair with ethical living and contemplation of its meaning.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: transcendent realm

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.226.38 (citta-śuddhi leading to jñāna); Garuda Purana nāma/mantra praise passages (contextual)

Characters & Entities

• Indra
• Gandharvas
• Apsarases
• Dwijas
• Praṇava (Om)

FAQs

What is the importance of Praṇava (Oṁ) japa in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents Praṇava-led mantra recitation as a direct means to liberation (mukti), emphasizing japa as a spiritually transformative practice.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It indicates that spiritual elevation—even to the “supreme abode”—is achieved through disciplined mantra-japa, implying an inner purification that transcends ordinary heavenly status.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain a steady daily japa practice (especially Oṁ and approved mantras) with ethical living, treating mantra repetition as a disciplined spiritual sādhanā rather than mere ritual.