Shloka 12

Brahman Beyond the Elements and the Three States (Turīya) — Dhyāna Leading to Brahma-realization

Devanagari script

विश्वेन रहितं तद्वत्तैजसेन विवर्जितम् / प्राज्ञेन रहितञ्चैव तुरीयं परमाक्षरम्

Transliteration

viśvena rahitaṃ tadvattaijasena vivarjitam / prājñena rahitañcaiva turīyaṃ paramākṣaram

Translation

Jenes Höchste ist frei vom Wachzustand (viśva), ebenso frei vom Traumzustand (taijasa) und auch vom Tiefschlafzustand (prājña); es ist das Vierte (turīya) — die höchste, unvergängliche Wirklichkeit.

Word by Word

• विश्वेन: with/with respect to the viśva (waking aspect)
• विश्वेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; ‘विश्व’ (वैश्वानर/स्थूल-प्रपञ्च-सम्बद्ध अवस्था) इत्यर्थे

• रहितम्: devoid of
• रहितम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रहित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘विना’ अर्थे विशेषणम्

• तद्वत्: likewise, in the same way
• तद्वत्: Sambandha (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद्वत् (अव्यय/तद्धितान्त)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारः: उपमानार्थक-अव्यय (meaning ‘likewise/so too’)

• तैजसेन: with/with respect to the taijasa (dream aspect)
• तैजसेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तैजस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तैजस-अवस्था/स्वप्न-सम्बद्ध

• विवर्जितम्: completely excluded from
• विवर्जितम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + वर्जित (कृदन्त; √वर्ज् धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त), ‘विशेषेण वर्जितम्’—विशेषणम्

• प्राज्ञेन: with/with respect to the prājña (deep-sleep aspect)
• प्राज्ञेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; प्राज्ञ-अवस्था/सुषुप्ति-सम्बद्ध

• रहितम्: devoid of
• रहितम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रहित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

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

• एव: indeed, just
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक-निपात (emphatic particle)

• तुरीयम्: the fourth (turīya)
• तुरीयम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तुरीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘चतुर्थम्’ (the fourth state)

• परम-अक्षरम्: the supreme imperishable
• परम-अक्षरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक) + अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘परं च तत् अक्षरम्’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Turīya (the Fourth) is beyond the three states and is the imperishable Reality (paramākṣara).

Vedantic Theme: Neti-neti; turīya as Brahman/Ātman; transcendence of avasthā-traya; akṣaratva (unchanging).

Application: During meditation, recognize all states as passing; practice ‘state-transcending’ awareness by resting in the gap between thoughts and by sustained witnesshood; use Māṇḍūkya-style contemplation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.91.10-11 (witness and subtle bliss); Garuda Purana 1.91.13-14 (nirādhāra, nirvikāra, vedānta-vedya)

FAQs

What is the importance of Turiya in the Garuda Purana?

This verse identifies liberation-oriented knowledge: the Supreme Reality is not any of the three ordinary states (waking, dream, deep sleep) but the transcendent Fourth (turīya), pointing the seeker toward Brahman rather than state-bound experience.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By distinguishing the imperishable Reality from the three changing states of consciousness, it implies that the soul’s highest goal is to realize what is beyond state-dependent identity—supporting a moksha-centered understanding rather than mere post-death geography.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice witnessing awareness: observe waking, dream-like thoughts, and sleepiness as changing conditions, and cultivate steadiness through japa/meditation to remember the imperishable Self beyond them.