Shloka 14

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

Devanagari script

विक्रियारहितं चैव वेदान्तैर्वेद्यमेव च / वेदरूपं परं भूतमिन्द्रियेभ्यः परं शुभम्

Transliteration

vikriyārahitaṃ caiva vedāntairvedyameva ca / vedarūpaṃ paraṃ bhūtamindriyebhyaḥ paraṃ śubham

Translation

That Supreme Reality is indeed free from all modification; it is knowable through the Vedānta. It is of the very nature of the Veda, the highest Being—auspicious and beyond the senses.

Word by Word

• विक्रिया-रहितम्: free from change/modification
• विक्रिया-रहितम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विक्रिया (प्रातिपदिक) + रहित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘विक्रियया रहितम्’—विशेषणम्

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

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक-निपात (emphatic particle)

• वेदान्तैः: by the Vedāntas (Upaniṣads)
• वेदान्तैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेदान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; ‘वेदान्त-शास्त्रैः’

• वेद्यम्: to be known, knowable
• वेद्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √विद् (धातु) + यत् (कृत्) → वेद्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कृत्य-प्रत्यय (यत्), ‘ज्ञेयम्’—विशेषणम्

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक-निपात

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

• वेद-रूपम्: having the form of the Veda
• वेद-रूपम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘वेदस्य रूपम्’—विशेषणम्

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

• भूतम्: being, existent
• भूतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भूत (कृदन्त; √भू धातु, क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त), ‘भूतम्’ = ‘अस्ति/सम्भूतम्’ अर्थे—विशेषणम्

• इन्द्रियेभ्यः: from/than the senses
• इन्द्रियेभ्यः: Apadana (Ablative/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान), बहुवचन; ‘इन्द्रियात् परम्’ इत्यर्थे

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

• शुभम्: auspicious, благ
• शुभम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Supreme is nirvikāra (without modification), knowable through Vedānta; it is Veda-svarūpa, the highest Being, auspicious and beyond the senses.

Vedantic Theme: Śruti-pramāṇya; Brahman as nirvikāra and atīndriya; Veda as revealer of the transcendent; satyam-jñānam-anantam orientation.

Application: Prioritize disciplined study (śravaṇa) of Vedānta with reflection; distrust purely sensory certainty for ultimate questions; cultivate sāttvika living to support subtle understanding.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.91.10-13 (witness, subtlety, turīya, nirādhāra)

FAQs

What is the importance of Vedānta in Garuda Purana?

This verse states that the Supreme Reality is specifically knowable through Vedānta, highlighting scriptural wisdom (Upaniṣadic insight) as a direct means to realize the changeless, sense-transcending Truth.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By defining the Highest as beyond the senses and free from change, the verse points the seeker away from sense-bound experience toward inner knowledge—implying liberation comes through realizing the indriyātīta, nirvikāra Supreme rather than clinging to transient phenomena.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate discrimination between the changing and the changeless: reduce sense-driven compulsions, study Vedāntic teachings, and practice contemplation to orient life toward what is stable, auspicious, and spiritually liberating.