Shloka 10

Devanagari script

जलार्क्ववद्वदरवज्जीवः प्राणादिधारणः / जाग्रत्स्वप्नसुषुप्तीनां साक्षी जीवः स च स्मृतः

Transliteration

jalārkvavadvadaravajjīvaḥ prāṇādidhāraṇaḥ / jāgratsvapnasuṣuptīnāṃ sākṣī jīvaḥ sa ca smṛtaḥ

Translation

The jīva, subtle like the fiber of a lotus-stalk and minute like a spark, sustains the vital forces such as prāṇa. That very jīva is remembered as the witness of the three states—waking, dreaming, and deep sleep.

Word by Word

• जलार्क्ववत्: like water and the sun
• जलार्क्ववत्: Sambandha (Qualifier/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्क (प्रातिपदिक) + वत् (तद्धित)
• Form: उपमानवाचक अव्यय; समासः—द्वन्द्व-आधार + वत् (जल-अर्क-वत् = like water and sun)

• वद्: like
• वद्: Sambandha (Qualifier/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वद् (अव्यय/उपमानसूचक)
• Form: उपमानार्थक-अव्यय (as/like)

• अरवत्: like ‘ara’ (spoke-like)
• अरवत्: Sambandha (Qualifier/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अर (प्रातिपदिक) + वत् (तद्धित)
• Form: उपमानवाचक अव्यय (vat-formation); अर्थः—‘अरवत्’ (like a spoke/like ‘ara’)

• जीवः: the jīva
• जीवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• प्राणादिधारणः: the sustainer of prāṇa and the rest
• प्राणादिधारणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राण (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + धारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (to जीवः); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (प्राणादीनां धारणः = holder of prāṇa etc.)

• जाग्रत्: waking
• जाग्रत्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जाग्रत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (state), षष्ठी (6th) बहुवचन-समासाङ्गत्वेन; (in compound with following)

• स्वप्न: dream
• स्वप्न: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वप्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (usage), षष्ठी-बहुवचन-समासाङ्गत्वेन; (in compound with following)

• सुषुप्तीनाम्: of deep-sleep states
• सुषुप्तीनाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुषुप्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; (with जाग्रत्स्वप्नसुषुप्तीनाम् as a compound phrase)

• साक्षी: witness
• साक्षी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साक्षिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• जीवः: the jīva
• जीवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; पुनरुक्ति (apposition)

• सः: he/that
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• स्मृतः: is called/considered
• स्मृतः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) → स्मृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मणि/भावे—‘is said/remembered’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The jīva, extremely subtle, supports prāṇa and functions as sākṣin (witness) of waking, dream, and deep sleep.

Vedantic Theme: Avasthā-traya-viveka (discrimination of three states); sākṣī-caitanya distinct from mind and prāṇa; subtle-body dependence on consciousness.

Application: Practice ‘state-witnessing’: note changing contents of waking/dream and the blankness of deep sleep, inferring the constant witness; reduce fear of change by anchoring in the witnessing awareness.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.239.9 (Brahman as the sole indweller of both bodies); Garuda Purana 1.239.3 (organs and vāyus as the functional apparatus sustained by jīva)

Characters & Entities

• Jiva
• Prana
• Waking state
• Dream state
• Deep sleep

FAQs

What is the importance of the jīva being called a 'witness' in the Garuda Purana?

This verse defines the jīva as sākṣī—aware across waking, dream, and deep sleep—indicating continuity of consciousness beyond changing experiences.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

By describing the jīva as subtle and as the supporter of prāṇa, it implies the soul is not the gross body; it persists with subtle functions, enabling post-death journey teachings elsewhere in the Purana.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate self-observation: notice thoughts and states as changing, while maintaining ethical discipline and detachment by remembering the inner witness is distinct from the body-mind.