Shloka 11

Kula-amṛta: Śiva’s Teaching to Nārada on Viṣṇu-Dhyāna and Mokṣa

Devanagari script

यस्तु विश्वमनाद्यन्तमजमात्मनि संस्थितम् / सर्वज्ञमचलं विष्णुं सदा ध्यायेत्समुच्यते

Transliteration

yastu viśvamanādyantamajamātmani saṃsthitam / sarvajñamacalaṃ viṣṇuṃ sadā dhyāyetsamucyate

Translation

But the one who constantly meditates on Viṣṇu—who is the universe itself, beginningless and endless, unborn, established in the Self, all-knowing and unmoving—such a person is liberated.

Word by Word

• यः: who (he)
• यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुल्लिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण/विरोधार्थक-अव्यय (but/indeed)

• विश्वम्: the universe
• विश्वम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• अनादि: beginningless
• अनादि: Karma (Object-qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनादि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (विश्वम्)

• अन्तम्: endless
• अन्तम्: Karma (Object-qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; अनादि-अन्त (कर्मधारय: 'beginningless and endless')—विशेषणसमूहः (विश्वम्)

• अजम्: unborn
• अजम्: Karma (Object-qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (विश्वम्)

• आत्मनि: in the Self
• आत्मनि: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग; सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• संस्थितम्: situated/established
• संस्थितम्: Karma (Object-qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; विशेषणम् (विश्वम्)

• सर्वज्ञम्: all-knowing
• सर्वज्ञम्: Karma (Object-qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्वज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (विष्णुम्)

• अचलम्: immovable
• अचलम्: Karma (Object-qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अचल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (विष्णुम्)

• विष्णुम्: Vishnu
• विष्णुम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन

• सदा: always
• सदा: Adhikarana (Temporal/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय

• ध्यायेत्: should meditate
• ध्यायेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ध्यै (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• समुच्यते: is said to be (liberated)/is declared
• समुच्यते: Kriya (Result/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-उच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Meditation on Vishnu as anadi-ananta, aja, atma-sthita, sarvajna, achala leads to liberation—identifying the Supreme with Self and cosmos.

Vedantic Theme: Brahman/Ishvara as immanent and transcendent; liberation through steady nididhyasana on the changeless Self-grounded Lord.

Application: Practice daily dhyana on Vishnu as the unmoving witness within; use mahavakya-style contemplation (‘He is established in the Self’) to stabilize attention beyond change.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: recurring descriptions of Vishnu as sarvagata/achala and as the support of all beings (theme parallels)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Atman

FAQs

What is the importance of Vishnu-dhyana in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that steady, continuous meditation on Viṣṇu—recognized as the all-pervading, beginningless reality—directly results in liberation (mukti).

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It frames the soul’s highest path as inner realization: by fixing awareness on Viṣṇu who abides in the Self (ātmani saṃsthita), one transcends bondage and attains release.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain daily remembrance/meditation on Viṣṇu (japa, dhyāna, or nāma-smaraṇa) and align conduct with steadiness and knowledge, treating devotion as a direct discipline toward freedom from fear and attachment.