Shloka 13

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

Devanagari script

सर्वगोप्तृ सर्वहन्तृ सर्वभूतात्मरूपि च / बुद्धिधर्मविहीनं वै निराधारं शिवं हरिम्

Transliteration

sarvagoptṛ sarvahantṛ sarvabhūtātmarūpi ca / buddhidharmavihīnaṃ vai nirādhāraṃ śivaṃ harim

Translation

He is the protector of all and the destroyer of all; He assumes the form of the Self within all beings. Truly, He is beyond the attributes of intellect and dharma—supportless (without any other ground), auspicious, Hari (Viṣṇu).

Word by Word

• सर्व-गोप्तृ: protector of all
• सर्व-गोप्तृ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + गोप्तृ (प्रातिपदिक; √गुप् धातु, तृच्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘सर्वस्य गोप्ता’ (protector of all)

• सर्व-हन्तृ: destroyer of all
• सर्व-हन्तृ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + हन्तृ (प्रातिपदिक; √हन् धातु, तृच्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘सर्वस्य हन्ता’ (destroyer of all)

• सर्व-भूत-आत्म-रूपि: whose form is the Self of all beings
• सर्व-भूत-आत्म-रूपि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + भूत (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + रूपिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘सर्वभूतानाम् आत्मा (यस्य) सः’—विशेषणम् (रूपिन्-प्रत्ययान्त)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• बुद्धि-धर्म-विहीनम्: devoid of the properties of intellect
• बुद्धि-धर्म-विहीनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक) + धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + विहीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘बुद्धिधर्मेण विहीनम्’—विशेषणम्

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (Emphasis/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphatic/assurance particle)

• निर्-आधारम्: supportless, without substratum
• निर्-आधारम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर् (उपसर्ग) + आधार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘आधाररहितम्’—विशेषणम्

• शिवम्: Śiva; auspicious one
• शिवम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेष्य/उपाधि (epithet)

• हरिम्: Hari (Viṣṇu)
• हरिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेष्य/उपाधि (epithet)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Hari is both protector and destroyer, the inner Self of all; beyond buddhi-dharma (conceptual/intellectual attributes), supportless, auspicious.

Vedantic Theme: Paramātman as antaryāmin; transcendence of upādhis (buddhi/guṇa-dharmas); Brahman as ādhāra of all yet itself nirādhāra.

Application: Cultivate fearlessness by seeing the same Self in all; loosen rigid moral/intellectual self-images (buddhi-dharma) while maintaining ethical conduct; meditate on the indwelling Hari as the true ‘I’.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.91.10 (overseer); Garuda Purana 1.91.14 (nirvikāra, vedānta-vedya)

Characters & Entities

• Hari (Vishnu)
• Shiva (as 'auspicious' epithet)

FAQs

What is the importance of describing Hari as the Self of all beings in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames Hari as the inner Self (ātman) present in all beings, making devotion and liberation-oriented knowledge converge: realizing the indwelling Lord is central to mokṣa.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By presenting Hari as beyond intellect-based classifications and as the inner Self, it implies that the soul’s highest refuge is not merely ritual merit but realization/surrender to the supreme, independent Lord.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate ethical living and devotion while remembering the same Self pervades all beings—this reduces harm, strengthens dharma in conduct, and supports a liberation-focused mindset.