Shloka 37

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

Devanagari script

तथा जाग्रदवस्थायां भूतानि न तु सन्निधौ / द्वैरूप्यं मायया याति जाग्रत्स्वप्नपदज्ञ (क्ष) योः

Transliteration

tathā jāgradavasthāyāṃ bhūtāni na tu sannidhau / dvairūpyaṃ māyayā yāti jāgratsvapnapadajña (kṣa) yoḥ

Translation

Likewise, in the waking state beings are perceived though they are not actually present nearby; by māyā there arises a double appearance for one who knows the levels of waking and dream.

Word by Word

• तथा: likewise/so
• तथा: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: 'thus/likewise')

• जाग्रदवस्थायाम्: in the waking state
• जाग्रदवस्थायाम्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जाग्रत् (प्रातिपदिक) + अवस्था (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (जाग्रतः अवस्था)

• भूतानि: beings/things
• भूतानि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध

• तु: but
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (contrastive)

• सन्निधौ: in (actual) presence
• सन्निधौ: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्निधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन

• द्वैरूप्यम्: duality/twofold appearance
• द्वैरूप्यम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वि (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (द्वे रूपे यस्य)

• मायया: by māyā
• मायया: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• याति: goes/attains (becomes)
• याति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• जाग्रत्स्वप्नपदज्ञयोः: of the knower of the states of waking and dream
• जाग्रत्स्वप्नपदज्ञयोः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जाग्रत् (प्रातिपदिक) + स्वप्न (प्रातिपदिक) + पद (प्रातिपदिक) + ज्ञ (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √ज्ञा)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), द्विवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्व (जाग्रत्-स्वप्न) + तत्पुरुष (जाग्रत्स्वप्नयोः पदयोः ज्ञः)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: In waking too, beings are ‘seen’ without true proximity; māyā produces a dual-mode appearance (waking/dream) for one who understands these states.

Vedantic Theme: State-analysis (avasthā-traya) and the constructed nature of experience; appearance does not guarantee ontological presence.

Application: Cultivate mindful perception: distinguish direct experience from mental representation; reduce reactive judgments by recognizing constructed ‘presence’.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana avasthā-traya discussion (contextual continuation)

Characters & Entities

• Maya

FAQs

What is the importance of Māyā (illusion) in this Garuda Purana verse?

The verse highlights that Māyā can project a “double appearance,” making perceived reality seem immediate and present even when it is not—urging discernment between appearance and truth.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s understanding of reality?

By comparing waking perception to dream-like projection, it teaches that both states can contain appearances not grounded in direct presence, encouraging the seeker to recognize the subtle role of mind and illusion.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice mindful verification before reacting—recognize that impressions and assumptions can be Māyā-like projections, and cultivate steady discrimination (viveka) in decisions and relationships.