Shloka 10

Brahma-dhyāna: From Purification to Samādhi

Meditation on Brahman and Viṣṇu

Devanagari script

आसनं पद्मकाद्युक्तं प्राणायामो मरुज्जयः / प्रत्याहा रो जयः प्रोक्तो ध्यानमीश्वरचिन्तनम्

Transliteration

āsanaṃ padmakādyuktaṃ prāṇāyāmo marujjayaḥ / pratyāhā ro jayaḥ prokto dhyānamīśvaracintanam

Translation

Āsana ist, so heißt es, Padmaka und dergleichen; prāṇāyāma ist die Bezwingung des Lebenshauchs. pratyāhāra wird als Sieg (über die Sinne) verkündet; und dhyāna ist das Schauen und Gedenken des Herrn (Īśvara).

Word by Word

• आसनम्: posture; seat
• आसनम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; topic/subject

• पद्मकाद्युक्तम्: endowed with (postures) like padmaka
• पद्मकाद्युक्तम्: Karta (Subject-qualifier/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पद्मक + आदि + युक्त (कृदन्त, √युज्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमासः (पद्मक-आदि-युक्त) ‘endowed with padmaka etc.’; क्त-कृदन्त

• प्राणायामः: breath-control
• प्राणायामः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राण + आयाम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमासः ‘restraint/extension of breath’

• मरुज्जयः: conquest of the breath
• मरुज्जयः: Karta (Subject-complement/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मरुत् + जय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमासः ‘conquest of wind/breath’ (appositional description of prāṇāyāma)

• प्रत्याहारः: withdrawal (of senses)
• प्रत्याहारः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रति + आ + हृ (धातु) से निष्पन्न ‘प्रत्याहार’ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; technical term

• जयः: victory; conquest
• जयः: Karta (Subject-complement/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; predicate nominative

• प्रोक्तः: is declared
• प्रोक्तः: Kriya (Predicative/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वच् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘is said’

• ध्यानम्: meditation
• ध्यानम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्यान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; subject/topic

• ईश्वरचिन्तनम्: contemplation of the Lord
• ईश्वरचिन्तनम्: Karta (Subject-complement/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश्वर + चिन्तन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमासः ‘contemplation of the Lord’ (apposition to ध्यानम्)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Yoga limbs: asana stabilizes, pranayama conquers prana, pratyahara withdraws senses, dhyana fixes mind on Ishvara.

Vedantic Theme: Antahkarana-shuddhi and ekagrata as proximate means to realization; Ishvara-dhyana supports both bhakti and jnana trajectories.

Application: Establish a daily sequence: steady seat (10–20 min), regulated breathing, brief sensory withdrawal (screen/impulse fasting), then Ishvara-focused meditation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.44.9 (yama-niyama as ethical base)

Characters & Entities

• Ishvara

FAQs

What is the importance of asana, pranayama, pratyahara, and dhyana in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames key yogic limbs as progressive mastery: steadiness in posture, control of prāṇa, victory over the senses through withdrawal, and culminating meditation as sustained contemplation of Īśvara.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By emphasizing inner discipline—especially prāṇa-control and sense-withdrawal—it points to purification and mental steadiness that support higher contemplation, which is presented here as God-centered meditation.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Adopt a stable seated posture, practice gentle breath regulation, reduce sensory distractions, and dedicate daily meditation to focused remembrance of the Divine.