Shloka 14

Nārāyaṇa-Smaraṇa as the Supreme Dharma, Expiation, and Yogic Purifier

Devanagari script

ध्यानेन सदृशो नास्ति शोधनं पापकर्मणाम् / आगामिदेहहेतूनां दाहको योगपावकः

Transliteration

dhyānena sadṛśo nāsti śodhanaṃ pāpakarmaṇām / āgāmidehahetūnāṃ dāhako yogapāvakaḥ

Translation

Keine Läuterung sündiger Taten ist der Meditation gleich; das Feuer des Yoga verbrennt die Ursachen, die sonst eine künftige Verkörperung hervorbrächten.

Word by Word

• ध्यानेन: by meditation
• ध्यानेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्यान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन — Instrumental singular (by/with meditation)

• सदृशः: equal/similar
• सदृशः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सदृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन — Nominative singular; विशेषण (predicate adjective)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय — negative particle

• अस्ति: is
• अस्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन — 3rd person singular; with negation: 'is not'

• शोधनम्: purification
• शोधनम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शोधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन — Nominative singular; विधेय (predicate noun)

• पापकर्मणाम्: of sinful actions
• पापकर्मणाम्: Shashthi-Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप + कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन — Genitive plural; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पापस्य कर्माणि)

• आगामिदेहहेतूनाम्: of the causes of future bodies
• आगामिदेहहेतूनाम्: Shashthi-Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आगामि + देह + हेतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन — Genitive plural; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (आगामिनः देहस्य हेतवः)

• दाहकः: burner/destroyer
• दाहकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दाहक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन — Nominative singular; विधेय (predicate noun)

• योगपावकः: the fire of yoga
• योगपावकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग + पावक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन — Nominative singular; कर्मधारय (योगः एव पावकः)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dhyāna and yogāgni purify pāpa and burn the causal seeds (hetu) of future embodiment (āgāmi-deha).

Vedantic Theme: Karma-bīja-dāha through yoga leading toward jīvanmukti; purification of antaḥkaraṇa as prerequisite for liberation.

Application: Establish a daily meditation discipline; treat recurring harmful tendencies as ‘seeds’ to be weakened by sustained dhyāna and ethical restraint.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.230.15-18 (samādhi, yogāgni, Viṣṇu-smṛti as purifier)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Yoga

FAQs

What is the importance of meditation (dhyāna) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that dhyāna is the unsurpassed purifier of sinful karma, because it destroys the inner causes (karmic seeds) that generate future embodiment.

How does this verse explain karma and future birth?

It distinguishes between past sinful actions and the underlying causes that lead to another body; yoga is described as a fire that burns those causes, reducing the momentum toward future rebirth.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Adopt regular meditation and disciplined yoga as a daily purification practice—using inner restraint, clarity, and contemplation to weaken harmful tendencies and prevent repeating unethical actions.