Shloka 38

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

Devanagari script

एवमेतत्परं ब्रह्म स्वप्नजाग्रत्पदद्वये / सुषुप्तमचलं रूपमद्वयं पदमुच्यते

Transliteration

evametatparaṃ brahma svapnajāgratpadadvaye / suṣuptamacalaṃ rūpamadvayaṃ padamucyate

Translation

Thus, this is the Supreme Brahman: amid the two conditions called dream and waking, it is spoken of as suṣupti—the unmoving, changeless form—the non-dual state (advaya).

Word by Word

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

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• ब्रह्म: Brahman
• ब्रह्म: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• स्वप्नजाग्रत्पदद्वये: in the pair of states (dream and waking)
• स्वप्नजाग्रत्पदद्वये: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वप्न (प्रातिपदिक) + जाग्रत् (प्रातिपदिक) + पद (प्रातिपदिक) + द्वय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्व (स्वप्न-जाग्रत्) + तत्पुरुष (तयोः पदयोः द्वये)

• सुषुप्तम्: deep-sleep (state)
• सुषुप्तम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुषुप्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (रूपस्य)

• अचलम्: immovable/unchanging
• अचलम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अचल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• रूपम्: form/nature
• रूपम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अद्वयम्: non-dual
• अद्वयम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अद्वय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• पदम्: state/abode
• पदम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• उच्यते: is said/is called
• उच्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive: 'is called')

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Param Brahman is indicated through the contrast of waking and dream; the non-dual, unmoving ‘state’ is spoken of as suṣupti—pointing to the changeless reality beyond both.

Vedantic Theme: Avasthā-traya-viveka leading to turīya/non-dual Brahman; suṣupti as experiential hint of non-duality (absence of dual objects) though not final realization by itself.

Application: Contemplate the witness across waking/dream/deep sleep; practice self-inquiry (‘Who am I?’) and meditation on the changeless awareness underlying all states.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana jñāna section culmination on Brahman/non-duality (contextual)

Characters & Entities

• Brahman

FAQs

What is the importance of deep sleep (suṣupti) in this Garuda Purana verse?

It is presented as a pointer to the changeless, non-dual reality—where mental distinctions of waking and dream subside—hinting at Brahman’s steady nature.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey and subtle body teachings?

By contrasting waking and dream (mind-dependent states) with deep sleep’s stillness, it emphasizes that the highest reality is beyond the subtle body’s changing experiences.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate steadiness and detachment: observe waking and dream-like fluctuations of the mind, and seek the inner, unchanging awareness through disciplined reflection and meditation.