Shloka 17

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

Devanagari script

संयम्य प्रकृतिं चापि चिच्छक्त्या केवले स्थितः / पश्यत्यात्मानि चात्मानमात्मनात्मप्रकाशकम्

Transliteration

saṃyamya prakṛtiṃ cāpi cicchaktyā kevale sthitaḥ / paśyatyātmāni cātmānamātmanātmaprakāśakam

Translation

Having restrained even Prakṛti and abiding solely in the power of pure consciousness, one perceives the Self within the Self—self-luminous, revealed by the Self itself.

Word by Word

• संयम्य: having restrained
• संयम्य: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम् + यम् (धातु) → संयम्य (कृदन्त, ल्यप्)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यपन्त अव्यय (absolutive/gerund): having restrained

• प्रकृतिम्: Prakriti, nature
• प्रकृतिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रकृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्म (object)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (and)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (also)

• चित्-शक्त्या: by the power of consciousness
• चित्-शक्त्या: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चित् (प्रातिपदिक) + शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; समासः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'चितः शक्तिः'); करण (instrumental)

• केवले: in the absolute/alone (state)
• केवले: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: केवल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative)

• स्थितः: abiding
• स्थितः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्था (धातु) → स्थित (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle)

• पश्यति: sees
• पश्यति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पश् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• आत्मानि: in the Self
• आत्मानि: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (and)

• आत्मानम्: the Self
• आत्मानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्म (object)

• आत्मना: by the Self
• आत्मना: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; करण (instrumental)

• आत्म-प्रकाशकम्: self-illuminating
• आत्म-प्रकाशकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रकाशक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; समासः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'आत्मनः प्रकाशकः'); विशेषण (qualifying आत्मानम्)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: When prakṛti is restrained, established in pure consciousness (cit-śakti), one directly perceives the self-luminous ātman—revealed by itself, not by external means.

Vedantic Theme: Svayaṃ-prakāśatva of ātman; aparokṣa-anubhava (immediate realization); transcendence of guṇas/prakṛti as preparatory to nondual insight.

Application: Shift meditation from object-focus to the knowing principle; inquire ‘Who is aware?’; rest as awareness without grasping experiences; recognize that the Self needs no ‘proof’ beyond its own luminosity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: inner realization (ātma-darśana)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.235.18 (attributes of cidrūpa and establishment in turīya)

Characters & Entities

• Prakriti
• Atman

FAQs

What is the importance of controlling Prakriti in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents mastery over Prakṛti as a prerequisite for steady abidance in pure consciousness, enabling direct realization of the Self beyond material conditioning.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It points to liberation through inner realization: when the soul-identification shifts from nature (body-mind) to pure consciousness, the Self is known as self-luminous and not dependent on external proof.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice restraint over sensory and mental impulses, cultivate inward attention (dhyāna), and repeatedly discriminate between changing experiences and the witnessing awareness.