Shloka 23

Devanagari script

नित्यं शुद्धं बुद्धमुक्तं सत्यं ब्रह्माद्वितीयकम् / तत्त्वंपदान्तौ शिष्टौ च तत्कारो ब्रह्मवाचकः

Transliteration

nityaṃ śuddhaṃ buddhamuktaṃ satyaṃ brahmādvitīyakam / tattvaṃpadāntau śiṣṭau ca tatkāro brahmavācakaḥ

Translation

Brahman is eternal, pure, of the nature of consciousness and ever-free, true, and non-dual. In the expression “tat tvam”, the words “tat” and “tvam” are the two principal terms, and the syllable “tat” denotes Brahman.

Word by Word

• nityam: eternal
• nityam: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणरूपेण (predicate adjective)

• śuddham: pure
• śuddham: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śuddha (शुध् धातु; कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त

• buddha-muktam: awakened and liberated
• buddha-muktam: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: buddha (बुध् धातु; क्त) + mukta (मुच् धातु; क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्व (buddha + mukta)

• satyam: true
• satyam: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: satya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• brahma-advitīyakam: Brahman, non-dual (without a second)
• brahma-advitīyakam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman + a-dvitīyaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (advitīyakaṃ brahma)

• tattvam: the principle/reality
• tattvam: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tattva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• pada-antau: the two word-endings
• pada-antau: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pada + anta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (padasya antaḥ)

• śiṣṭau: accepted/prescribed
• śiṣṭau: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śiṣṭa (शिष् धातु; क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; 'prescribed/accepted by the learned'

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (च)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-निपात

• tat-kāraḥ: the syllable/sound 'tat'
• tat-kāraḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad + kāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (tasya kāraḥ)

• brahma-vācakaḥ: denoting Brahman
• brahma-vācakaḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: brahman + vācaka (वच् धातु; ण्वुल्/कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (brahmaṇaḥ vācakaḥ)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Brahman is nitya-śuddha-buddha-mukta-satya-advitīya; in ‘tat tvam’ the terms are principal, and ‘tat’ denotes Brahman (lakṣya indicated through instruction).

Vedantic Theme: Mahāvākya-vicāra; Brahman as sat-cit-mukta; non-duality (advaita) and the indicative power of words toward the Absolute.

Application: Daily contemplation: repeat and inquire into ‘tat’ as Brahman—pure, free, non-dual—then examine ‘tvam’ and dissolve limiting adjuncts (upādhis) through discrimination.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.239.19–22 (preparatory analysis culminating in Brahman teaching)

Characters & Entities

• Brahman

FAQs

What is the importance of Brahman (non-dual Reality) in Garuda Purana?

This verse defines Brahman as eternal, pure, conscious, ever-free, and non-dual—pointing to liberation through right knowledge rather than only external rites.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By presenting Brahman as ‘buddha-mukta’ (conscious and free), it implies that realizing one’s identity with the non-dual Reality is the direct means to transcend bondage and attain moksha.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use the teaching as a daily contemplation: remember the Self as pure awareness, reduce identification with fear and guilt, and align actions with truth (satya) and purity (śuddhi).