Shloka 15

Kula-amṛta: Śiva’s Teaching to Nārada on Viṣṇu-Dhyāna and Mokṣa

Devanagari script

वाक्यातीतं त्रिकालज्ञं विश्वेशं लोकसाक्षिणम् / सर्वस्मादुत्तमं विष्णुं सदा ध्यायन्विमुच्यते

Transliteration

vākyātītaṃ trikālajñaṃ viśveśaṃ lokasākṣiṇam / sarvasmāduttamaṃ viṣṇuṃ sadā dhyāyanvimucyate

Translation

Quien medita sin cesar en Viṣṇu—inefable, conocedor de los tres tiempos (pasado, presente y futuro), Señor del universo y testigo de todos los mundos, supremo por encima de todo—alcanza la liberación.

Word by Word

• वाक्यातीतम्: beyond speech
• वाक्यातीतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक) + अतीत (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (वाक्यस्य अतीतम्)

• त्रिकालज्ञम्: knower of the three times
• त्रिकालज्ञम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + काल (प्रातिपदिक) + ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (त्रिकालस्य ज्ञम्)

• विश्वेशम्: Lord of the universe
• विश्वेशम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्व (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (विश्वस्य ईशः)

• लोकसाक्षिणम्: witness of the world
• लोकसाक्षिणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक) + साक्षिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (लोकस्य साक्षी)

• सर्वस्मात्: from all (others)
• सर्वस्मात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, पञ्चमी (5th/अपादान), एकवचन; सर्वनाम-शब्द

• उत्तमम्: supreme
• उत्तमम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तुलनात्मक/श्रेष्ठार्थक विशेषण

• विष्णुम्: Vishnu
• विष्णुम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• सदा: always
• सदा: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• ध्यायन्: meditating (on)
• ध्यायन्: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ध्यै (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ/Present active participle), परस्मैपदी; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; क्रिया-विशेषणरूपेण

• विमुच्यते: is liberated
• विमुच्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + मुच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive sense)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Nitya-dhyāna of the supreme Viṣṇu—beyond speech yet omniscient—destroys bondage and yields liberation.

Vedantic Theme: Nirvacanīyatā/Anirvacanīya-brahman (beyond words) with sākṣitva (witness-consciousness); liberation through steady contemplation on the Supreme.

Application: Daily fixed-time meditation on Viṣṇu with these epithets (vākya-atīta, trikāla-jña, lokasākṣin), using japa + dhyāna and returning attention to the witnessing presence.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.232.16-18 (refrain: sदा ध्यायन् विमुच्यते); Garuda Purana mokṣa-oriented stotras and nāma-dhyāna passages in the same adhyāya context

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of Vishnu-dhyana in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that steady, continual meditation on Vishnu—recognized as the supreme, all-knowing witness—leads to liberation (vimukti), making dhyana a direct means to moksha.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Rather than focusing on external conditions, it emphasizes inner alignment: remembrance and meditation on the Supreme Witness dissolves bondage, implying the soul’s release from karmic entanglement and repeated birth.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain daily Vishnu-smaraṇa (remembrance)—through japa, meditation, or mindful recitation—cultivating ethical living and reducing fear and attachment by anchoring the mind in the Supreme.