Shloka 40

Atma-Jnana as the Direct Means to Moksha: Advaita, Maya, and the Three States

Devanagari script

एवं तस्या (दात्या) त्मनादित्यं सिद्धमेकस्य सत्यजा / सतोस्तित्वं वसातित्वादस्तित्वासत्यतां ततः

Transliteration

evaṃ tasyā (dātyā) tmanādityaṃ siddhamekasya satyajā / satostitvaṃ vasātitvādastitvāsatyatāṃ tataḥ

Translation

Ainsi, selon cette doctrine—établie par le raisonnement propre—la vérité du Soi se trouve fixée : l’existence de ce qui est réel est affirmée ; et ce qui n’est pas réel, parce qu’il dépend d’un support, est compris comme n’ayant pas d’existence ; dès lors, sa fausseté est conclue.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• तस्याः: of her/its
• तस्याः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• दात्या: by the giver (fem.)
• दात्या: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन (पाठान्तर/कोष्ठकस्थ)

• आत्मना: by the self
• आत्मना: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• आदित्यम्: the sun; Āditya
• आदित्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• सिद्धम्: established, accomplished
• सिद्धम्: Kriya (क्रिया/with implied 'asti')
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सिद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विधेयविशेषण (predicate adjective)

• एकस्य: of the one
• एकस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; विशेषण

• सत्यजा: born of truth / arising from truth
• सत्यजा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्य + जा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; (सत्यात् जाता) षष्ठी/पञ्चमी-तत्पुरुषभाव; विशेषण

• सतः: of the existent/real
• सतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• अस्तित्वम्: existence
• अस्तित्वम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्तित्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• वसातित्वात्: from dwelling/abiding-ness (as cause)
• वसातित्वात्: Apadana (अपादान/Ablative-cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसातित्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• अस्तित्व: existence
• अस्तित्व: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/qualifier in compound)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्तित्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (समासपूर्वपद)

• असत्यताम्: unreality, falsity
• असत्यताम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असत्यता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• ततः: therefore, from that
• ततः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: thence/therefore)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (answering Garuda/Vinata-putra in doctrinal exposition)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Reality (sat) is affirmed as self-established; unreality is known as dependent (āśrita) and thus non-existent in itself—thereby falsity (asatyatā/mithyātva) is concluded.

Vedantic Theme: Adhiṣṭhāna–āropa framework; satya/mithyā-viveka; dependence (paratantratā) as mark of unreality; Self as the settled truth.

Application: When encountering changing experiences, test for dependence: what requires support is not ultimately real; rest attention in the self-established witness.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.236 (continuation of sat-asat viveka and ātma-nishchaya)

Characters & Entities

• Atman

FAQs

What is the importance of distinguishing sat (real) and asat (unreal) in Garuda Purana?

This verse frames spiritual discernment: what is truly real has stable existence, while what is dependent and contingent is treated as ultimately false—guiding detachment and right knowledge.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By emphasizing the Self (Atman) as the stable truth and treating dependent phenomena as unreliable, it supports the soul’s progress through correct understanding rather than clinging to transient states.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate discrimination: act ethically in the world, but remember that lasting identity is the Atman; reduce attachment to impermanent gains and fears.