Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 105

Mukti-tattva Upadeśa: Knowledge as the Direct Cause of Liberation

Devanagari script

अभ्यसेन्मनसा शुद्धं त्रिवृद्ब्रह्माक्षरं परम् / मनो यष्छेज्जितश्वासो ब्रह्म बीजमविस्मरन्

Transliteration

abhyasenmanasā śuddhaṃ trivṛdbrahmākṣaraṃ param / mano yaṣchejjitaśvāso brahma bījamavismaran

Translation

With a purified mind, one should practice the supreme sacred syllable of Brahman, the threefold A‑U‑M. Controlling the mind and mastering the breath, one should never forget the seed of Brahman—the primal mantra.

Word by Word

• अभ्यसेत्: should practice
• अभ्यसेत्: विध्यर्थक क्रिया (should practice)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + अस् (धातु, अभ्यासे)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• मनसा: with the mind
• मनसा: करण (Karana/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• शुद्धम्: pure
• शुद्धम्: कर्मविशेषण (Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• त्रिवृत्: threefold
• त्रिवृत्: कर्मविशेषण (Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रिवृत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (त्रिगुण-आवृतम्/त्रिविधम्)

• ब्रह्माक्षरम्: the Brahman-syllable (Om)
• ब्रह्माक्षरम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्म + अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः ब्रह्मणः अक्षरम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: कर्मविशेषण (Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• मनः: the mind
• मनः: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

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

• छिन्यात्: should cut off
• छिन्यात्: विध्यर्थक क्रिया (should cut off)
• Type: Verb
• Root: छिद् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• जितश्वासः: having controlled the breath
• जितश्वासः: कर्तृविशेषण (Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जित + श्वास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः जितः श्वासः (कर्मधारय)

• ब्रह्म: Brahman
• ब्रह्म: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• बीजम्: seed (mantra)
• बीजम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बीज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• अविस्मरन्: not forgetting
• अविस्मरन्: कर्तृविशेषण (Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अ + वि + स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; नञ्-पूर्वकः (not forgetting)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Pranava (A-U-M) as the supreme Brahman-syllable; purification, breath-mastery, and unwavering remembrance of the Brahman-seed as a direct means to liberation.

Vedantic Theme: Pranava-upasana leading to brahma-sakshatkara; integration of pranayama and mantra as aids to antahkarana-shuddhi and nididhyasana.

Application: Daily japa of Om with mindful breath regulation; keep the pranava as constant inner recollection, especially at transitions (sleep/waking, before actions).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.49.108 (Om at death with remembrance); Garuda Purana 2.49.107 (aham brahma contemplation)

Characters & Entities

• Brahman
• Om (AUM)

FAQs

What is the importance of meditating on Om (trivṛt brahmākṣara) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents Om (A-U-M) as the supreme Brahman-syllable and instructs steady mental practice of it as a direct means to purification and liberation-oriented awareness.

How does this verse connect mind-control and breath-control to spiritual progress?

It links restraining the wandering mind with ‘conquering the breath’ (jita-śvāsa), indicating that disciplined pranayama supports concentration on the Brahman-seed mantra and stabilizes inner remembrance.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice daily japa or silent contemplation of Om with calm, regulated breathing and a deliberate effort to curb mental distraction—keeping the central spiritual aim (Brahman-remembrance) continuous.