Shloka 21

Devanagari script

तनुस्थः पृच्छते यस्तु तत्र सिद्धिर्न संशयः / वैच्छन्दो वामदेवस्तु यदा वहति चात्मनि

Transliteration

tanusthaḥ pṛcchate yastu tatra siddhirna saṃśayaḥ / vaicchando vāmadevastu yadā vahati cātmani

Translation

Wer im Körper verweilt und in rechter Weise fragt, dort ist Erfolg, ohne Zweifel. Und wenn Vāmadeva, der Vaicchanda, es in sich trägt, wird diese Erlangung fest gegründet.

Word by Word

तनुस्थःsituated in the body

पृच्छतेasks

यःwho

तुindeed/but

तत्रthere

सिद्धिःsuccess/accomplishment

नnot

संशयःdoubt

वैच्छन्दःVaicchanda (a named condition/entity)

वामदेवःVāmadeva

तुindeed/but

यदाwhen

वहतिcarries/bears/moves

चand

आत्मनिin oneself

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: True success comes from inquiry grounded within embodied awareness (tanustha); attainment is stabilized when the principle named Vāmadeva/Vaicchanda is ‘borne within’—i.e., internalized realization rather than external report.

Vedantic Theme: Antarmukhatva (turning inward) and sākṣin (inner witness); knowledge becomes firm when assimilated (aparokṣa-anubhava orientation).

Application: Practice disciplined self-inquiry/meditative observation rather than seeking second-hand accounts; integrate teachings until they become lived certainty.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: inner-sacred-space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: yogic signs and inner discernment around death and subtle travel; Garuda Purana: emphasis on internal purity and steadiness for right knowledge

Characters & Entities

Vāmadeva

Vaicchanda

FAQs

What is the importance of inner inquiry in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that when one inquires while established within oneself (tanusthaḥ), success (siddhi) is assured and doubt is removed.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By emphasizing inward establishment (ātmani) and disciplined inquiry, it points to an internalized spiritual method that stabilizes understanding and supports higher attainment.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice self-reflection and disciplined questioning (study, contemplation, and ethical living) rather than scattered curiosity—steadiness within leads to clarity and progress.