Shloka 2

Yoga’s Limbs and Dharma as the Ground of Liberation

Devanagari script

समाधिरिति चाष्टाङ्गो योग उक्तो विमुक्तये / कर्मणा मनसा वाचा सर्वभूतेषु सर्वदा

Transliteration

samādhiriti cāṣṭāṅgo yoga ukto vimuktaye / karmaṇā manasā vācā sarvabhūteṣu sarvadā

Translation

Le Yoga aux huit membres—qui s’accomplit en samādhi—a été enseigné pour la délivrance ; et en tout temps, envers tous les êtres, il faut garder pureté et non-nuisance par l’action, la pensée et la parole.

Word by Word

• समाधिः: absorption (samādhi)
• समाधिः: Karta (Enumerated item/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समाधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (Quotative/इति)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (उद्धरण/समाप्तिबोधक)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चय)

• अष्टाङ्गः: eight-limbed
• अष्टाङ्गः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्ट + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (योगः इत्यस्य)

• योगः: yoga
• योगः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• उक्तः: is said/declared
• उक्तः: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे ‘is said’

• विमुक्तये: for liberation
• विमुक्तये: Sampradana (Purpose/प्रयोजन-सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विमुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th), एकवचन; प्रयोजन-द्योतक दत्तिविभक्ति

• कर्मणा: by action
• कर्मणा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

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

• वाचा: by speech
• वाचा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• सर्वभूतेषु: in/among all beings
• सर्वभूतेषु: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन; अधिकरण

• सर्वदा: always
• सर्वदा: Sambandha (Temporal adverb/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ashtanga-yoga culminating in samadhi is a means to vimukti; simultaneous insistence on tri-karana-shuddhi (purity of body, mind, speech) and sarva-bhuta-hita (non-harm to all beings).

Vedantic Theme: Sadhana-chatushtaya-like purification: ethical universality supports steadiness of mind for liberating realization.

Application: Pair meditative practice with continuous ethical audit: before acting/speaking, check for harm; cultivate compassionate intention as a constant baseline.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.238.1 (limbs leading up to dharana/dhyana); Garuda Purana 1.238.3 (ahimsa as highest happiness); Garuda Purana 1.238.4 (satya with priya)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Yoga
• Samadhi
• Moksha
• All beings (sarvabhuta)

FAQs

What is the importance of eight-limbed Yoga (aṣṭāṅga-yoga) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames aṣṭāṅga-yoga, culminating in samādhi, as a direct means to liberation (vimukti), emphasizing that yogic realization is inseparable from ethical discipline.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul toward liberation?

It teaches that freedom is attained through sustained yogic practice (ending in samādhi) along with constant purity and restraint in deeds, thoughts, and words toward all beings.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice mindfulness and compassion daily: avoid harm, speak truthfully and kindly, and align actions with dharma while maintaining a steady meditation practice aimed at inner stillness.