Shloka 15

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

Devanagari script

वाक्यातीतं त्रिकालज्ञं विश्वेशं लोकसाक्षिणम् / सर्वस्मादुत्तमं विष्णुं सदा ध्यायन्विमुच्यते

Transliteration

vākyātītaṃ trikālajñaṃ viśveśaṃ lokasākṣiṇam / sarvasmāduttamaṃ viṣṇuṃ sadā dhyāyanvimucyate

Translation

By ever meditating on Viṣṇu—beyond the reach of words, knower of the three times, Lord of the universe and witness of all worlds, supreme above all—one is liberated.

Word by Word

• वाक्यातीतम्: beyond speech
• वाक्यातीतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक) + अतीत (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (वाक्यस्य अतीतम्)

• त्रिकालज्ञम्: knower of the three times
• त्रिकालज्ञम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + काल (प्रातिपदिक) + ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (त्रिकालस्य ज्ञम्)

• विश्वेशम्: Lord of the universe
• विश्वेशम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्व (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (विश्वस्य ईशः)

• लोकसाक्षिणम्: witness of the world
• लोकसाक्षिणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक) + साक्षिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (लोकस्य साक्षी)

• सर्वस्मात्: from all (others)
• सर्वस्मात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, पञ्चमी (5th/अपादान), एकवचन; सर्वनाम-शब्द

• उत्तमम्: supreme
• उत्तमम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तुलनात्मक/श्रेष्ठार्थक विशेषण

• विष्णुम्: Vishnu
• विष्णुम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• सदा: always
• सदा: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• ध्यायन्: meditating (on)
• ध्यायन्: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ध्यै (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ/Present active participle), परस्मैपदी; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; क्रिया-विशेषणरूपेण

• विमुच्यते: is liberated
• विमुच्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + मुच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive sense)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Nitya-dhyāna of the supreme Viṣṇu—beyond speech yet omniscient—destroys bondage and yields liberation.

Vedantic Theme: Nirvacanīyatā/Anirvacanīya-brahman (beyond words) with sākṣitva (witness-consciousness); liberation through steady contemplation on the Supreme.

Application: Daily fixed-time meditation on Viṣṇu with these epithets (vākya-atīta, trikāla-jña, lokasākṣin), using japa + dhyāna and returning attention to the witnessing presence.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.232.16-18 (refrain: sदा ध्यायन् विमुच्यते); Garuda Purana mokṣa-oriented stotras and nāma-dhyāna passages in the same adhyāya context

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

This verse states that steady, continual meditation on Vishnu—recognized as the supreme, all-knowing witness—leads to liberation (vimukti), making dhyana a direct means to moksha.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Rather than focusing on external conditions, it emphasizes inner alignment: remembrance and meditation on the Supreme Witness dissolves bondage, implying the soul’s release from karmic entanglement and repeated birth.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain daily Vishnu-smaraṇa (remembrance)—through japa, meditation, or mindful recitation—cultivating ethical living and reducing fear and attachment by anchoring the mind in the Supreme.