Shloka 1

Brahma-vidyā through Yoga: Restraint, Pranava Japa, and Samādhi leading to Mokṣa

Devanagari script

चतुस्त्रिंशदुत्तरद्विशततमो ऽध्यायः सूत उवाच वेदान्तसाङ्ख्यसिद्धान्तब्रह्मज्ञानं वदाम्यहम् / अहं ब्रह्म परं ज्योतिर्विष्णुरित्येव चिन्तयन्

Transliteration

catustriṃśaduttaradviśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ sūta uvāca vedāntasāṅkhyasiddhāntabrahmajñānaṃ vadāmyaham / ahaṃ brahma paraṃ jyotirviṣṇurityeva cintayan

Translation

Sūta said: “I shall expound the knowledge of Brahman established in the conclusions of Vedānta and Sāṅkhya—by contemplating thus: ‘I am Brahman, the supreme Light; I am indeed Viṣṇu.’”

Word by Word

• चतुस्त्रिंशदुत्तरद्विशततमः: two-hundred-and-thirty-fourth
• चतुस्त्रिंशदुत्तरद्विशततमः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुः (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + त्रिंशत् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक) + द्विशत (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + तम (तद्धित-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; क्रमवाचक-समासः—द्विशततमस्य उत्तरः चतुस्त्रिंशत् (i.e., 234th)

• अध्यायः: chapter
• अध्यायः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अध्याय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• सूतः: Suta
• सूतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदी

• वेदान्तसाङ्ख्यसिद्धान्तब्रह्मज्ञानम्: Brahman-knowledge according to Vedanta and Sankhya doctrines
• वेदान्तसाङ्ख्यसिद्धान्तब्रह्मज्ञानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेदान्त (प्रातिपदिक) + साङ्ख्य (प्रातिपदिक) + सिद्धान्त (प्रातिपदिक) + ब्रह्म (प्रातिपदिक) + ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः—वेदान्त-साङ्ख्य-सिद्धान्तेषु ब्रह्मज्ञानम् (brahma-knowledge as per Vedanta and Sankhya doctrines)

• वदामि: I speak, I will tell
• वदामि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदी

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम; प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; लिङ्ग-अनियत

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम; प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; लिङ्ग-अनियत

• ब्रह्म: Brahman
• ब्रह्म: Pratijna/Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; विधेय-नाम (predicate nominative)

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifies ब्रह्म/ज्योतिः)

• ज्योतिः: light
• ज्योतिः: Pratijna/Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्योतिस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; विधेय-नाम

• विष्णुः: Vishnu
• विष्णुः: Pratijna/Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; विधेय-नाम

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (Quotation marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (particle of emphasis)

• चिन्तयन्: contemplating
• चिन्तयन्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चिन्तय् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान-कृदन्त (present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; अर्थः—चिन्तयन् (while contemplating)

Speaker

Sūta

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Vedānta–Sāṅkhya siddhānta framed as Brahma-jñāna through nididhyāsana on mahāvākya-like identity: ‘I am Brahman… I am Vishnu.’

Vedantic Theme: Nondual/identity contemplation (aham-brahmāsmi style) with Vishnu identified as supreme light; synthesis of tattva-viveka and contemplative assimilation.

Application: Adopt disciplined contemplation (śravaṇa–manana–nididhyāsana): meditate on the Self as pure consciousness/light, reducing egoic identification; integrate with devotion by seeing Vishnu as the inner Self.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: jnana-oriented sections describing brahma-jñāna and liberation; teachings that equate Vishnu with Brahman

Characters & Entities

• Sūta
• Vedānta
• Sāṅkhya
• Brahman
• Viṣṇu

FAQs

What is the importance of Brahma-jñāna in Garuda Purana?

This verse frames Brahma-jñāna as the highest teaching—rooted in Vedānta and Sāṅkhya—meant to be realized through steady contemplation on one’s identity with the supreme reality.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It points to liberation through inner knowledge: by meditating on the self as Brahman (the supreme light identified with Viṣṇu), the seeker transcends limited individuality—the core aim behind the Purāṇa’s guidance on life, death, and release.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Adopt daily contemplation: remember the divine presence as the inner light, align actions with purity and truth, and use study/reflection (Vedānta) plus discernment (Sāṅkhya) to reduce fear and attachment.