Shloka 9

Brahma-dhyāna: From Purification to Samādhi

Meditation on Brahman and Viṣṇu

Devanagari script

स्वर्धुन्याः पारमाप्नोति तद्विष्णोः परमं पदम् / अहिंसादिर्यमः प्रोक्तः शौचादिर्नियमः स्मृतः

Transliteration

svardhunyāḥ pāramāpnoti tadviṣṇoḥ paramaṃ padam / ahiṃsādiryamaḥ proktaḥ śaucādirniyamaḥ smṛtaḥ

Translation

One reaches the farther shore of the heavenly river—indeed, that is the supreme abode of Viṣṇu. Non-violence (ahiṃsā) and the like are declared to be the yamas (ethical restraints), while purity and the like are remembered as the niyamas (observances).

Word by Word

• स्वर्धुन्याः: of the celestial river (Svardhunī)
• स्वर्धुन्याः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्धुनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; genitive: of the heavenly river (Ganga)

• पारम्: the farther shore
• पारम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; object of āpnoti

• आप्नोति: attains
• आप्नोति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आप् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम-विशेषण, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; modifies पदम्

• विष्णोः: of Viṣṇu
• विष्णोः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; genitive

• परमम्: supreme
• परमम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; modifies पदम्

• पदम्: abode; state
• पदम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; object (goal)

• अहिंसादिः: non-violence and the like
• अहिंसादिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहिंसा + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमासः (अहिंसा-आदि) meaning ‘non-violence etc.’

• यमः: yama (ethical restraint)
• यमः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; subject-complement with proktaḥ

• प्रोक्तः: is declared
• प्रोक्तः: Kriya (Predicative/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वच् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; passive participle ‘is said/declared’

• शौचादिः: purity and the like
• शौचादिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शौच + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसक/पुं (usage), प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमासः meaning ‘purity etc.’

• नियमः: niyama (observance)
• नियमः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नियम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; subject-complement

• स्मृतः: is regarded; is remembered
• स्मृतः: Kriya (Predicative/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘is remembered/considered’

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ethical restraints (yama) and observances (niyama) are foundational disciplines leading toward the supreme goal associated with Vishnu.

Vedantic Theme: Sadhana-chatushtaya support: purification (shaucha), non-injury (ahimsa) and allied virtues as prerequisites for steady knowledge/meditation.

Application: Adopt a yama-niyama checklist: practice ahimsa in speech/consumption, maintain shaucha (body and mind), and track lapses as part of spiritual audit.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: river/ford and transcendent abode

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.44.10 (asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dhyana—yoganga continuation)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Svardhuni (Ganga)

FAQs

What is the importance of yama and niyama in the Garuda Purana?

This verse defines yama as ethical restraints beginning with ahiṃsā and niyama as observances beginning with śauca, presenting them as foundational disciplines that support spiritual attainment.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It links liberation-oriented progress—reaching the ‘far shore’ and Viṣṇu’s supreme abode—with inner discipline: moral restraint (yama) and purifying observance (niyama).

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice ahiṃsā (non-harm) in thought, speech, and action, and maintain śauca (cleanliness/purity) externally and internally as daily disciplines to strengthen dharmic living.