Shloka 11

Brahman Beyond the Elements and the Three States (Turīya) — Dhyāna Leading to Brahma-realization

Devanagari script

सर्वदृष्टं तथा मूर्तं सूक्ष्मं सूक्ष्मतरं परम् / ज्ञानदृक् श्रोत्रविज्ञानं परमानन्दरूपकम्

Transliteration

sarvadṛṣṭaṃ tathā mūrtaṃ sūkṣmaṃ sūkṣmataraṃ param / jñānadṛk śrotravijñānaṃ paramānandarūpakam

Translation

It is the seer of all, and also the manifest (formed); it is subtle, subtler still, and supreme—known through the eye of knowledge and the discerning power of hearing—its very nature being the highest bliss.

Word by Word

• सर्व-दृष्टम्: seen by all / all-seeing (contextual epithet)
• सर्व-दृष्टम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + दृष्ट (कृदन्त; √दृश् धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त), ‘सर्वैः दृष्टम्/सर्वं दृष्टम्’ (contextual) —विशेषणम्

• तथा: thus, likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्यय-प्रकारः: अव्यय-क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• मूर्तम्: manifest, embodied
• मूर्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मूर्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• सूक्ष्मम्: subtle
• सूक्ष्मम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सूक्ष्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• सूक्ष्म-तरम्: more subtle
• सूक्ष्म-तरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सूक्ष्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तरप्-प्रत्यय (comparative)

• परम्: supreme, beyond
• परम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• ज्ञान-दृक्: the knower, seer of knowledge
• ज्ञान-दृक्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक) + दृक् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘ज्ञानं पश्यति’/‘ज्ञानस्य द्रष्टा’—बहिर्वचन-विशेषणवत्

• श्रोत्र-विज्ञानम्: auditory cognition / ear-consciousness
• श्रोत्र-विज्ञानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रोत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + विज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘श्रोत्रस्य विज्ञानम्’ (auditory cognition)

• परम-आनन्द-रूपकम्: having the nature of supreme bliss
• परम-आनन्द-रूपकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक) + आनन्द (प्रातिपदिक) + रूपक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘परमानन्दस्य रूपकम्/स्वरूपम्’—विशेषणम्

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Supreme is sarva-dṛṣṭā (seer of all), simultaneously immanent (mūrta) and transcendent (sūkṣma/sūkṣmatara/parama), realized through knowledge; its essence is paramānanda.

Vedantic Theme: Brahman as both nirguṇa and the ground of saguna manifestation; pramātṛ (knower) distinct from pramāṇa/prameya; ānanda-svarūpa.

Application: Shift from sensory knowing to reflective discernment (śravaṇa-manana); treat perceptions as known objects and abide as the knowing principle; cultivate inner listening (śruti-buddhi) and contemplative study.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.91.10 (witness of states); Garuda Purana 1.91.12 (turīya)

FAQs

What is the importance of realizing the 'subtle and supreme' reality in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames liberation-oriented knowledge: the Supreme is present as the all-seeing reality, yet beyond gross form—realized through refined inner discernment and śruti-guided understanding, culminating in supreme bliss.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By pointing to knowledge (jñāna) and śruti-based discernment as the means to recognize the supreme, bliss-natured reality, it implies that the soul’s progress is fulfilled not only by post-death rites but by Self-realization that transcends subtle and gross identification.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate disciplined study/listening to sacred teachings, reflect deeply, and develop inner discernment—shifting identity from the merely physical to the subtler self, aiming toward peace and ethical clarity rooted in the pursuit of the highest good.