Shloka 15

Devanagari script

स्वप्नं सुषुप्तिः करणोपसंघाते धियः (प) स्थित (ति) / ब्रह्मणः कारणावस्थायां स्थितिः कालकात्मना

Transliteration

svapnaṃ suṣuptiḥ karaṇopasaṃghāte dhiyaḥ (pa) sthita (ti) / brahmaṇaḥ kāraṇāvasthāyāṃ sthitiḥ kālakātmanā

Translation

Dream and deep sleep are conditions of the mind when the sense-faculties are gathered and withdrawn. Likewise, Brahman abides in the causal state, established as Time itself (Kāla), the inner principle of time.

Word by Word

• स्वप्नम्: dream (state)
• स्वप्नम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वप्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन — Accusative singular (as state/object under discussion)

• सुषुप्तिः: deep sleep
• सुषुप्तिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुषुप्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन — Nominative singular

• करणोपसंघाते: in the aggregation of instruments (sense-organs etc.)
• करणोपसंघाते: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: करण + उपसंघात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन — Locative singular; तत्पुरुषः (करणानाम् उपसंघातः)

• धियः: of the intellect
• धियः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन — Genitive singular

• स्थितिः: abiding/remaining
• स्थितिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थिति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन — Nominative singular

• ब्रह्मणः: of Brahman
• ब्रह्मणः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन — Genitive singular

• कारणावस्थायाम्: in the causal state
• कारणावस्थायाम्: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कारण + अवस्था (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन — Locative singular; तत्पुरुषः (कारणस्य अवस्था)

• स्थितिः: abiding/established state
• स्थितिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थिति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन — Nominative singular

• कालकात्मना: by/through the time-nature (as self)
• कालकात्मना: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कालक + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन — Instrumental singular; तत्पुरुषः (कालकः आत्मा यस्य/कालकात्मा)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dream and deep sleep occur when the sense-faculties are withdrawn; Brahman is indicated as abiding in the causal condition, associated with Time as an inner principle.

Vedantic Theme: Avasthā-traya and kāraṇa-avasthā; pointer toward the substratum beyond mind-sense activity; time as a dependent principle in Brahman (interpretive, not strict identity).

Application: Practice pratyāhāra and witness-consciousness: note the withdrawal of senses in sleep-like states; contemplate the causal ground that persists through waking/dream/sleep.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.239.14 (waking); Garuda Purana 1.239.16 (samādhi preparation)

Characters & Entities

• Brahman
• Kala (Time)

FAQs

What is the importance of dream and deep sleep in the Garuda Purana’s teaching?

This verse uses dream and deep sleep to show how consciousness appears to change when the senses and faculties withdraw, pointing to a deeper causal basis beyond waking experience.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By describing withdrawal of the instruments (karaṇas), it hints at how experience depends on subtle faculties—an idea used in Garuda Purana discussions of the subtle body’s functioning beyond gross waking life.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Observe how the mind changes across waking, dream, and sleep; cultivate detachment and steadiness, remembering that sensory activity is not the whole of the Self and that time-bound experiences are transient.