Shloka 27

Atma-Jnana as the Direct Means to Moksha: Advaita, Maya, and the Three States

Devanagari script

प्रत्यक्षमपि यद्द्रव्यन्दुर्दर्शमिति भाषते / व्योमादिना सरूपाद्यैरन्यथा कल्पितैस्तथा

Transliteration

pratyakṣamapi yaddravyandurdarśamiti bhāṣate / vyomādinā sarūpādyairanyathā kalpitaistathā

Translation

Even when a substance is directly present, one may still say, “It is hard to perceive”; likewise, by imagining it otherwise—through examples such as space and the like, and by notions of form and related attributes—people misconstrue it.

Word by Word

• pratyakṣam: directly perceptible
• pratyakṣam: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pratyakṣa (प्रत्यक्ष-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — used adjectivally “directly perceived”

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (Additive/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (अपि-निपातः) — “even/also”

• yat: which
• yat: Sambandha (Relative/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (यद्-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — relative pronoun “which/that” (agreeing with dravyam)

• dravyam: a substance
• dravyam: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dravya (द्रव्य-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — accusative/nominative; here object of speech “substance”

• dur-darśam: hard to see
• dur-darśam: Karman-prayojaka (Object complement/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dur (दुर्-उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + darśa (दर्श-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — predicate adjective; समासः: कर्मधारय (दुर्दर्श = difficult to see)

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (Quotation marker/उद्धरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (उद्धरण-निपातः) — quotative particle “thus”

• bhāṣate: says
• bhāṣate: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhāṣ (भाष्-धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम् — “speaks/says”

• vyoma-ādinā: by space etc.
• vyoma-ādinā: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vyoman (व्योमन्-प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (आदि-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन — instrumental singular; समासः: तत्पुरुष (व्योम-आदि)

• sa-rūpa-ādyaiḥ: by (attributes) like form etc.
• sa-rūpa-ādyaiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sa (स-उपसर्ग/सह) + rūpa (रूप-प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (आदि-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन — instrumental plural; समासः: तत्पुरुष (सरूप-आदि)

• anyathā: otherwise
• anyathā: Kriya-visheshana (Adverb/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: anyathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण) — “otherwise”

• kalpitaiḥ: by imagined (attributes)
• kalpitaiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kalpita (कल्पित-प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त from kḷp)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन — instrumental plural; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle) “imagined/constructed” (agreeing with sarūpādyaiḥ)

• tathā: so, likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (Correlative/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (तुलनार्थ-निपातः) — “so/likewise”

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Even what is directly present can be declared ‘difficult to see’ when misconceived through imagined constructs (space, form, attributes); the Self is self-evident but obscured by wrong framing.

Vedantic Theme: Aparokṣānubhūti vs. conceptualization; the Self as svayaṃ-prakāśa (self-luminous) yet ‘hidden’ by vṛtti-jāla (thought-net).

Application: When you feel ‘I can’t perceive the Self’, examine the assumption: drop the demand for an object-like perception; rest in the fact of awareness that is already present.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.236.25-26 (delusion and superimposition); Garuda Purana 1.236.28 (classic illusion examples)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of this teaching on perception in the Garuda Purana?

It cautions that even when truth is present, the mind can label it “unseen” and then fabricate explanations; spiritual understanding requires disciplined perception rather than imagination.

How does this verse relate to subtle realities discussed in the Garuda Purana?

By using “space and the like” as examples, it points to realities that are present yet not easily grasped by ordinary senses, warning against projecting false attributes onto them.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Avoid assuming or inventing conclusions about spiritual matters; verify through reliable teaching, careful observation, and ethical discipline before forming firm beliefs.