Shloka 15

Brahma-dhyāna: From Purification to Samādhi

Meditation on Brahman and Viṣṇu

Devanagari script

मनसो ऽभीप्सितं प्राप्य देवो वैमानिको भवेत् / निष्कामो मुक्तिमाप्नोति मूर्तिं ध्याययंस्तुवञ्जपन्

Transliteration

manaso 'bhīpsitaṃ prāpya devo vaimāniko bhavet / niṣkāmo muktimāpnoti mūrtiṃ dhyāyayaṃstuvañjapan

Translation

By attaining what the mind longs for, one may become a vaimānika celestial being who travels in a divine aerial chariot; but the desireless person attains liberation—meditating on the Lord’s mūrti, praising Him, and repeating His sacred names in japa.

Word by Word

• मनसः: of the mind
• मनसः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• अभीप्सितम्: the desired (object)
• अभीप्सितम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभीप्सित (कृदन्त; अभि+आप् धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; कर्मपद (desired thing)

• प्राप्य: having obtained
• प्राप्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्र + आप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund)

• देवः: a god; divine being
• देवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• वैमानिकः: celestial (of an aerial car)
• वैमानिकः: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (Subject attribute/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वैमानिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (देव-विशेषण)

• भवेत्: would become
• भवेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• निष्कामः: desireless
• निष्कामः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निः (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; नञ्/निः-तत्पुरुषः (कामरहितः)

• मुक्तिम्: liberation
• मुक्तिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• आप्नोति: attains
• आप्नोति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आप् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• मूर्तिम्: the form; image
• मूर्तिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• ध्याययन्: meditating
• ध्याययन्: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ध्यै (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ-प्रत्यय), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; क्रियाविशेषणभावे (while meditating)

• स्तुवन्: praising
• स्तुवन्: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्तु (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ-प्रत्यय), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; क्रियाविशेषणभावे (while praising)

• जपन्: reciting (japa)
• जपन्: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जप् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ-प्रत्यय), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; क्रियाविशेषणभावे (while reciting)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Desire leads to finite rewards (even celestial); desirelessness (niṣkāmatā) with dhyāna, stuti, and japa leads to liberation.

Vedantic Theme: Niṣkāma-bhakti/niṣkāma-karma as purifier culminating in mokṣa; hierarchy of goals: bhoga → svarga → mokṣa.

Application: Shift practice from petitionary worship to surrender: meditate on the Lord’s form, sing/recite hymns, and do mantra-japa daily without bargaining for outcomes.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: celestial realm (implied)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.44.11 (samādhi in Brahman); Garuda Purana 1.44.12 (form for meditation); Garuda Purana 1.44.13 (Brahman/light realization)

Characters & Entities

• Deva
• Vimana (Vaimānika)

FAQs

What is the importance of niṣkāma (desirelessness) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse distinguishes finite rewards (becoming a deva with a vimāna) from the highest goal: moksha, which is attained by being niṣkāma and focusing devotionally on the Divine through meditation, praise, and japa.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It implies two outcomes: desire-driven spiritual practice can lead to heavenly states, while desireless devotion directed to the Lord leads beyond all worlds to liberation.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice daily dhyāna on the Divine form, offer stuti (prayer), and do nāma-japa while reducing self-centered motives—aiming for inner purification rather than only worldly or heavenly results.