Shloka 15

Varṇāśrama Dharma, Ethical Virtues, and Aṣṭāṅga-Yoga Culminating in ‘Ahaṃ Brahma’

Devanagari script

यस्त्वात्मरतिरेव स्यान्नित्यतृप्तो महामुनिः / सम्यक् च दमसम्पन्नः स योगी भिक्षुरुच्यते

Transliteration

yastvātmaratireva syānnityatṛpto mahāmuniḥ / samyak ca damasampannaḥ sa yogī bhikṣurucyate

Translation

Mais le grand muni qui ne se réjouit que dans le Soi, toujours comblé, et parfaitement pourvu de la juste maîtrise de soi (dama), est appelé yogin et véritable mendiant sacré.

Word by Word

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थक

• आत्मरतिः: delight in the Self
• आत्मरतिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् + रति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• एव: alone/indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अवधारणार्थक

• स्यात्: should be
• स्यात्: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• नित्यतृप्तः: ever-content
• नित्यतृप्तः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नित्य + तृप्त (प्रातिपदिक; √तृप् (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण

• महामुनिः: great sage
• महामुनिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सम्यक्: properly
• सम्यक्: Kriya-vishesana (Adverb/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्यक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), सम्यगर्थक

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• दमसम्पन्नः: endowed with self-control
• दमसम्पन्नः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दम + सम्पन्न (प्रातिपदिक; सम् + √पद्/√पद्? (धातु) + क्त; अर्थतः 'सम्पन्न')
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• योगी: yogi
• योगी: Karta (Predicate nominative/कर्ता-समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भिक्षुः: mendicant
• भिक्षुः: Karta (Predicate nominative/कर्ता-समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भिक्षु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• उच्यते: is called
• उच्यते: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive), आत्मनेपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ātmarati (delight in the Self), nitya-tṛpti (ever-content), and dama (self-restraint) are the marks of the true yogin and bhikṣu.

Vedantic Theme: Ātma-niṣṭhā and santoṣa: abiding as the Self, free from craving; the jīvanmukta ideal hinted through inner sufficiency.

Application: Cultivate contentment practices (gratitude, reduced wants), daily meditation/inquiry, and disciplined restraint in speech, consumption, and attention.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: inner contemplative space (ātma-sthiti)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.49.13-14 (dhyāna, yoga-abhyāsa, jñāna-oriented mendicancy as lead-in to ātmarati)

FAQs

What is the importance of ātmarati (delight in the Self) in Garuda Purana?

This verse states that inner absorption in the Self—rather than external marks—defines the genuine yogin and mendicant, making ātmarati a key sign of spiritual maturity.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By emphasizing contentment and self-restraint, it points to purification of mind and senses as the spiritual discipline that supports liberation (moksha), which is the ultimate aim beyond post-death outcomes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate daily contentment, reduce dependence on sensory pleasures, and practice disciplined self-control—these are presented here as the real marks of a yogic life.