Shloka 10

Hari’s Special Mercy, Śiva’s Quick Boons, and the Deliverance from Vṛkāsura

Devanagari script

तद् ब्रह्म परमं सूक्ष्मं चिन्मात्रं सदनन्तकम् । विज्ञायात्मतया धीर: संसारात्परिमुच्यते ॥ १० ॥

Transliteration

tad brahma paramaṁ sūkṣmaṁ cin-mātraṁ sad anantakam vijñāyātmatayā dhīraḥ saṁsārāt parimucyate

Translation

Thus becoming sober, one fully realizes the Supreme Brahman—most subtle, pure consciousness, and endless transcendental being; knowing the Supreme Truth as the very foundation of one’s own existence, one is freed from the cycle of material life.

Synonyms

• तत्: that
• तत्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; विशेषण (of ब्रह्म)

• ब्रह्म: Brahman
• ब्रह्म: कर्म/विषय (Object/Topic of knowing)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग

• परमम्: supreme
• परमम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; विशेषण (of ब्रह्म)

• सूक्ष्मम्: subtle
• सूक्ष्मम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सूक्ष्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; विशेषण

• चित्-मात्रम्: pure consciousness alone
• चित्-मात्रम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चित् (प्रातिपदिक) + मात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: चित् एव मात्रम् (कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-प्राय); प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग

• सत्: real/existent
• सत्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत् (कृदन्त; √अस् → शतृ/सत्)
• Form: प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; विशेषण — ‘being/real’

• अनन्तकम्: endless
• अनन्तकम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनन्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; विशेषण

• विज्ञाय: having realized
• विज्ञाय: पूर्वकाल (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ज्ञा (धातु) + वि
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive) — ‘having known/realized’

• आत्मतया: as the Self
• आत्मतया: करण/प्रकार (Manner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया, एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग; भाववाचक — ‘as one’s self/in the manner of selfhood’

• धीरः: the wise man
• धीरः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग

• संसारात्: from worldly existence
• संसारात्: अपादान (Apādāna/Ablative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संसार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग

• परिमुच्यते: is freed
• परिमुच्यते: क्रिया (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √मुच् (धातु) + परि
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive sense) — ‘is released’

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about realizing Brahman as the Self?

This verse states that when a sober person realizes the Supreme Brahman—pure, subtle consciousness—as one’s own Self, one becomes fully liberated from saṁsāra (repeated birth and death).

Who is speaking Bhagavatam 10.88.10 and to whom is it spoken?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī speaks this verse while narrating the philosophical conclusion of the chapter to Mahārāja Parīkṣit, emphasizing liberation through Self-realization.

How can I apply the teaching of 10.88.10 in modern life?

Cultivate steadiness (dhīratā) through disciplined spiritual practice—hearing sacred texts, meditation, and devotion—so that identity shifts from temporary roles to the inner Self, reducing anxiety and attachment and moving toward genuine freedom.