Shloka 11

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

Devanagari script

सबीजं वापि निर्बोजं ध्यानमेतत्प्रकीर्तितम् / भ्रुवोर्मध्ये स्थितां बुद्धिं विषयेषु युनक्ति यः

Transliteration

sabījaṃ vāpi nirbojaṃ dhyānametatprakīrtitam / bhruvormadhye sthitāṃ buddhiṃ viṣayeṣu yunakti yaḥ

Translation

This meditation (dhyāna) is declared to be of two kinds: with a seed (support) and without a seed (support). One who fixes the intellect in the space between the eyebrows and does not yoke it to sense-objects—he truly practices this dhyāna.

Word by Word

• सबीजम्: with seed (with support)
• सबीजम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स-बीज (प्रातिपदिक; बीज + सह/स)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषण (neuter nom/acc sg)

• वा: or
• वा: Vikalpa (Alternative/विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Samuccaya (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक अव्यय (particle: also/even)

• निर्बोजम्: seedless (without support)
• निर्बोजम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्-बीज (प्रातिपदिक; बीज + निर्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषण (neuter nom/acc sg)

• ध्यानम्: meditation
• ध्यानम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्यान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन (nom/acc sg)

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (this)

• प्रकीर्तितम्: is proclaimed/declared
• प्रकीर्तितम्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-कीर्त् (धातु) + त (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोग (declinable past participle: proclaimed)

• भ्रुवोः: of the two eyebrows
• भ्रुवोः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), द्विवचन (gen du)

• मध्ये: in the middle
• मध्ये: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन (loc sg)

• स्थिताम्: situated
• स्थिताम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्था (धातु) + त (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; विशेषण (past participle, fem acc sg)

• बुद्धिम्: intellect
• बुद्धिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन (acc sg)

• विषयेषु: in/among objects (sense-objects)
• विषयेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विषय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), बहुवचन (loc pl)

• युनक्ति: yokes, applies, engages
• युनक्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: युज् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (present indicative, 3rd sg, active)

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative pronoun)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Twofold dhyāna—supported (sabīja) and supportless (nirbīja); fix buddhi at the brow-center and withdraw from sense-objects.

Vedantic Theme: From ekāgratā to nirvikalpa-like absorption; disidentification from viṣayas as a step toward witnessing consciousness.

Application: Meditate daily: choose a support (mantra/form) or practice open awareness; gently place attention at brow-center; when distractions arise, return without engaging sense-objects.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: subtle-body locus

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.235.10 (aikya of inner faculties); Garuda Purana 1.235.12 (sense cessation and mind instability)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of sabīja and nirbīja dhyāna in the Garuda Purana?

This verse defines two classical modes of meditation—supported (with an object/mantra/form) and unsupported (objectless)—as legitimate paths for steadying consciousness toward liberation.

What does focusing between the eyebrows (bhrūmadhya) signify here?

It indicates a yogic concentration point used to stabilize buddhi (the discerning intellect) so it does not scatter outward into sensory attractions.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice daily concentration (with mantra or silent awareness) while consciously withdrawing attention from compulsive sensory inputs, cultivating steadiness and ethical clarity.