Shloka 10

Yoga’s Limbs and Dharma as the Ground of Liberation

Devanagari script

वेदान्तशतरुद्रीयप्रणवादिजप बुधाः / सत्त्वशुद्धिकरं पुंसां स्वाध्यायं परिचक्षते

Transliteration

vedāntaśatarudrīyapraṇavādijapa budhāḥ / sattvaśuddhikaraṃ puṃsāṃ svādhyāyaṃ paricakṣate

Translation

Die Weisen erklären: Svādhyāya (heiliges Selbststudium) — durch Japa von Vedānta, Śatarudrīya und dem Pranava (Oṁ) und dergleichen — reinigt das Sattva, die innere Wesensart des Menschen.

Word by Word

• वेदान्तशतरुद्रीयप्रणवादिजपः: recitation of Vedānta, Śatarudrīya, Praṇava, etc.
• वेदान्तशतरुद्रीयप्रणवादिजपः: Karta/Viśeṣya (Subject/topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेदान्त + शतरुद्रीय + प्रणव + आदि + जप (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता/1st case), एकवचन; Nominative singular; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (वेदान्तस्य/वेदान्त-; शतरुद्रीयस्य; प्रणवस्य; आदीनां जपः)

• बुधाः: the wise (people)
• बुधाः: Karta (Subject/agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता/1st case), बहुवचन; Nominative plural

• सत्त्वशुद्धिकरम्: purifying the mind/nature
• सत्त्वशुद्धिकरम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier of स्वाध्यायम्/जपः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्त्व + शुद्धि + कर (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/2nd case), एकवचन; Accusative singular; समासः—तत्पुरुष (सत्त्वस्य शुद्धिः; तां करोति)

• पुंसाम्: of men/people
• पुंसाम्: Sambandha (Relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुंस्/पुम् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध/6th case), बहुवचन; Genitive plural

• स्वाध्यायम्: self-study/recitation (of scripture)
• स्वाध्यायम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व + अध्याय (प्रातिपदिके) → स्वाध्याय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/2nd case), एकवचन; Accusative singular; समासः—तत्पुरुष (स्वस्य अध्यायः/स्वाध्यायः)

• परिचक्षते: they describe/declare
• परिचक्षते: Kriyā (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + चक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; Present indicative, 3rd person plural; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue instruction to Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Svādhyāya through japa of Vedānta texts, Śatarudrīya, and Praṇava purifies sattva.

Vedantic Theme: Śravaṇa–manana supported by mantra-japa; sattva-śuddhi as enabling condition for brahma-jñāna and steady bhakti.

Application: Establish daily svādhyāya: recite/practice Oṁ-japa, study Upaniṣadic passages with meaning, and maintain consistency; pair recitation with ethical living for deeper purification.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Dharma/Ācāra): praise of svādhyāya, japa, and mantra as purifiers (general internal thematic link)

Characters & Entities

• Rudra (Shiva)
• Pranava (Om)
• Vedanta

FAQs

What is the importance of svādhyāya in the Garuda Purana?

This verse defines svādhyāya as sacred self-study and mantra-recitation that specifically purifies sattva—making the mind clearer, steadier, and fit for dharmic living.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey and afterlife themes in the Garuda Purana?

By emphasizing sattva-śuddhi through japa and svādhyāya, it points to inner purification as the foundation that supports right karma and preparedness for post-death passages described elsewhere in the Purana.

What is a practical application of this teaching today?

Maintain a daily routine of reciting Oṁ (pranava) and studying a small portion of Vedānta/śāstra with attention and ethical intent, treating it as a discipline for mental clarity and moral restraint.