Shloka 18

Devanagari script

चिद्रूपममृतं शुद्धं निष्क्रियं व्यापकं शिवम् / तुरीयायामवस्थायामास्थितो ऽसौ न संशयः

Transliteration

cidrūpamamṛtaṃ śuddhaṃ niṣkriyaṃ vyāpakaṃ śivam / turīyāyāmavasthāyāmāsthito 'sau na saṃśayaḥ

Translation

He is of the nature of pure consciousness—immortal, stainless, actionless, all-pervading, and auspicious (Śiva). He abides in the fourth state (turīya); of this there is no doubt.

Word by Word

• चित्-रूपम्: of the nature of consciousness
• चित्-रूपम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चित् (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; समासः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'चितः रूपम्'); विशेषण (qualifying शिवम्/आत्मानम् implied)

• अमृतम्: immortal
• अमृतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषण

• शुद्धम्: pure
• शुद्धम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषण

• निष्क्रियम्: actionless
• निष्क्रियम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निष्क्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषण

• व्यापकम्: all-pervading
• व्यापकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्यापक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषण

• शिवम्: Shiva; the auspicious (Self)
• शिवम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्म (object)

• तुरीयायाम्: in the fourth (state)
• तुरीयायाम्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तुरीया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying अवस्थायाम्)

• अवस्थायाम्: in the state/condition
• अवस्थायाम्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवस्था (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative)

• आस्थितः: abiding, established
• आस्थितः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ + स्था (धातु) → आस्थित (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle): having attained/abiding in

• असौ: that one, he
• असौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• न: no, not
• न: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• संशयः: doubt
• संशयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; वाक्ये 'न संशयः' इति नास्त्यर्थे (there is no doubt)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ātman is pure consciousness: immortal, stainless, actionless, all-pervading, auspicious; realization is abiding in turīya beyond the three states.

Vedantic Theme: Nirguṇa-brahman/ātman lakṣaṇa (amṛta, śuddha, niṣkriya, vyāpaka); turīya as the nondual witness; śivam as auspiciousness of brahman (not sectarian exclusivity).

Application: Contemplate these lakṣaṇas as nididhyāsana: ‘I am not the doer; I am awareness’; reduce identification with changing states; stabilize in witnessing during waking and dream-like mental movements.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: state of consciousness (turīya)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.235.14-17 (avasthā analysis culminating in turīya)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Shiva
• Turiya

FAQs

What is the importance of the turīya (fourth state) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents turīya as the stable ground of the true Self—pure, deathless consciousness—indicating liberation is rooted in realizing this state beyond waking, dreaming, and deep sleep.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By identifying the real identity as actionless and immortal consciousness, it implies the soul’s highest path is not merely post-death travel but liberation through knowledge of the Self that transcends death and karmic movement.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice self-inquiry, meditation, and ethical living to detach from compulsive action and identify with awareness itself—cultivating steadiness that points toward turīya and reduces fear of death.