Shloka 3

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

Devanagari script

उदकेन विहीनं वै तद्धर्मपरिवर्जितम् / पृथिवीरहितं चैव सर्वभतविवर्जितम्

Transliteration

udakena vihīnaṃ vai taddharmaparivarjitam / pṛthivīrahitaṃ caiva sarvabhatavivarjitam

Translation

Indeed, that which is devoid of water is bereft of its proper dharma and rites; and that which is without earth is likewise abandoned—deprived of all beings, of all living support.

Word by Word

• उदकेन: by/with water
• उदकेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उदक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• विहीनम्: devoid of
• विहीनम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + ही (धातु) → विहीन (कृदन्त; क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle/emphasis)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Sambandha (Demonstrative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; (समासपूर्वपद)

• धर्म: property/quality
• धर्म: Sambandha (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; (समासपूर्वपद)

• परिवर्जितम्: devoid of its qualities
• परिवर्जितम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परि + वर्ज् (धातु) → परिवर्जित (कृदन्त; क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष—‘तत्-धर्मैः परिवर्जितम्’ (devoid of its qualities)

• पृथिवी: earth
• पृथिवी: Sambandha (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथिवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; (समासपूर्वपद)

• रहितम्: without earth
• रहितम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रहित (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त-प्राय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष—‘पृथिव्या रहितम्’ (without earth)

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

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

• सर्व: all
• सर्व: Sambandha (Compound member)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; (समासपूर्वपद)

• भूत: beings/elements
• भूत: Sambandha (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; (समासपूर्वपद)

• विवर्जितम्: devoid of all beings
• विवर्जितम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + वर्ज् (धातु) → विवर्जित (कृदन्त; क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष—‘सर्व-भूतैः विवर्जितम्’ (devoid of all beings)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Beyond water and its ‘dharma’ (properties/ritual associations), beyond earth and the support of embodied beings—pointing to the unconditioned reality not reliant on material substrates.

Vedantic Theme: Distinction between the changing elemental order (nāma-rūpa) and the changeless substratum; disidentification from gross supports.

Application: Reflect on impermanence of material supports; cultivate inner steadiness not dependent on external conditions.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana cosmology/tattva passages enumerating bhūtas and their guṇas, then pointing beyond them

FAQs

What is the importance of water (udaka) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that without water the act becomes dharma-less—implying that water offerings are a core component of proper rites for sustaining ritual efficacy, especially in post-death observances.

How does this verse relate to rites for the departed (śrāddha/pinda-dāna)?

By pairing water and earth as foundational supports, the verse points to the ritual logic behind udaka (libations) and pṛthivī-linked offerings (like piṇḍa), which together uphold the prescribed dharma connected with honoring and supporting the departed.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing ancestral or funeral-related rites, ensure the essential elements (especially water offerings) are done with care and intention, treating them as integral duties rather than optional add-ons.