Shloka 36

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

Devanagari script

षट्त्रिंशन्मात्रिकः श्रेष्ठः प्रत्याहारश्च रोधनम् / ब्रह्मात्मचिन्ता ध्यानं स्याद्धारणा मनसो धृतिः

Transliteration

ṣaṭtriṃśanmātrikaḥ śreṣṭhaḥ pratyāhāraśca rodhanam / brahmātmacintā dhyānaṃ syāddhāraṇā manaso dhṛtiḥ

Translation

છત્રીસ તત્ત્વો પર આધારિત આ સાધના શ્રેષ્ઠ છે. ઇન્દ્રિયોને પાછાં ખેંચવું ‘પ્રત્યાહાર’ છે, એ જ નિયંત્રણ કહેવાય. બ્રહ્મ-આત્મચિંતન ‘ધ્યાન’ છે; અને મનને સ્થિર રાખવું ‘ધારણા’ છે.

Word by Word

• ṣaṭtriṃśat-mātrikaḥ: having thirty-six units
• ṣaṭtriṃśat-mātrikaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ṣaṭtriṃśat (संख्या) + mātrika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षट्त्रिंशन्मात्रिक- इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (having thirty-six measures/units)

• śreṣṭhaḥ: excellent, best
• śreṣṭhaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śreṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• pratyāhāraḥ: withdrawal (of senses), pratyāhāra
• pratyāhāraḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: praty-ā-√hṛ (धातु) → pratyāhāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• rodhanam: restraint, blocking
• rodhanam: Pradhāna-vākya-predicative (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: √rudh (धातु) → rodhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; here as predicate-noun with pratyāhāraḥ

• brahma-ātma-cintā: contemplation on Brahman as Self
• brahma-ātma-cintā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक) + cintā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (contemplation of Brahman as the Self)

• dhyānam: meditation
• dhyānam: Pradhāna-vākya-predicative (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: √dhyai (धातु) → dhyāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; here as predicate-noun

• syāt: would be / is (to be)
• syāt: Kriyā (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; ‘may be/is said to be’

• dhāraṇā: concentration, holding
• dhāraṇā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: √dhṛ (धातु) → dhāraṇā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• manasaḥ: of the mind
• manasaḥ: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• dhṛtiḥ: steadiness, firmness
• dhṛtiḥ: Pradhāna-vākya-predicative (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: √dhṛ (धातु) → dhṛti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; predicate-noun to dhāraṇā

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Yoga of restraint and inner concentration: pratyāhāra (sense-withdrawal), dhyāna (Brahma-ātma-cintā), dhāraṇā (mind held steady).

Vedantic Theme: Antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi and ekāgratā as proximate means (sādhana) for ātma-jñāna; movement from indriya-vṛtti to brahma-vṛtti.

Application: Daily practice sequence: reduce sensory input, apply conscious restraint, set a single Brahman/Ātman contemplation, then hold attention without drift (timed dhāraṇā).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.49.37-40 (samādhi as ‘ahaṃ brahma’ and nondual realization)

Characters & Entities

• Brahman
• Atman

FAQs

What is the importance of pratyāhāra in the Garuda Purana?

This verse defines pratyāhāra as withdrawing and restraining the senses, presenting it as a foundational inner discipline for higher meditation and mental steadiness.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By emphasizing restraint, meditation on Brahman/Ātman, and concentration, it points to purification of the mind as the route toward liberation, rather than mere external action.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Reduce sensory distractions (pratyāhāra), practice daily self-inquiry or contemplation (dhyāna), and train focused attention (dhāraṇā) to build mental steadiness (dhṛti).