Shloka 6

Devanagari script

प्राणवं चिन्तयेव्द्योम्नि शरीरे ऽन्यत्तु कारणम् / एकैकं यो जयेत्तत्र क्षेत्रज्ञं देहकारणात्

Transliteration

prāṇavaṃ cintayevdyomni śarīre 'nyattu kāraṇam / ekaikaṃ yo jayettatra kṣetrajñaṃ dehakāraṇāt

Translation

Let one contemplate the sacred syllable Oṁ in the expanse of the sky; and within the body, the other causal principle (kāraṇa). Whoever conquers these, one by one, thereby realizes the Kṣetrajña, the Knower of the Field—the Self—distinct from the body and its causes.

Word by Word

• प्राणवम्: the praṇava (Oṃ)
• प्राणवम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रणव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• चिन्तयेत्: should contemplate
• चिन्तयेत्: Kriya (Main verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चिन्त् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपदम्

• द्योम्नि: in the sky/ether
• द्योम्नि: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्योमन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• शरीरे: in the body
• शरीरे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• अन्यत्: other/another
• अन्यत्: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nominative/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); ‘क कारणम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle)

• कारणम्: cause
• कारणम्: Karta (as predicate nominal/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nominative/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• एकैकम्: each one, one by one
• एकैकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक) + एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः—‘one by one/each separately’

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• जयेत्: should conquer
• जयेत्: Kriya (Main verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जि (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपदम्

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adverbial (देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक-क्रियाविशेषण (there/in that context)

• क्षेत्रज्ञम्: the knower of the field (self)
• क्षेत्रज्ञम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षेत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक; √ज्ञा)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); समासार्थः: ‘क्षेत्रं जानाति’ (knower of the field)

• देह-कारणात्: from the cause of the body
• देह-कारणात्: Apadana (Source/अपाादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देह (प्रातिपदिक) + कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन (Singular); समासार्थः: ‘देहस्य कारणम्’

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Meditation on Oṁ and causal principles enables progressive mastery leading to realization of the kṣetrajña distinct from body and its causes.

Vedantic Theme: Kṣetra–kṣetrajña viveka (Gītā 13); Oṁ as brahman-symbol (praṇava upāsanā) culminating in Self-recognition.

Application: Practice daily Oṁ contemplation with discriminative inquiry: observe body, breath, mind, and causal tendencies as objects; stabilize the witness-consciousness as distinct from changing layers.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: cosmic expanse and inner body-field

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: dīkṣā-yoga and bhūta-śuddhi passages surrounding this verse

Characters & Entities

• Om (Pranava)
• Kshetrajna (Atman)

FAQs

What is the importance of Pranava (Oṁ) meditation in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents Oṁ as a primary contemplative support; mastering its contemplation helps the seeker move beyond bodily identification toward realization of the Self (kṣetrajña).

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By distinguishing the kṣetrajña (inner knower) from the body and its causal factors, it frames liberation as inner realization rather than mere physical or ritual identity—guiding the soul toward mokṣa through knowledge and meditation.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice steady Oṁ-japa or meditation, and regularly reflect: “I am the knower, not the body.” This supports ethical clarity, reduced attachment, and a more moksha-oriented life.