Shloka 38

Mahāyoga: Detachment from ‘I/Mine’, Aṣṭāṅga Practice, Oṁkāra and Aham-Brahmāsmi Contemplation

Devanagari script

ध्यानेन पूजया जप्यैः सम्यक् स्तोत्रैर्यतव्रतैः / यज्ञैर्दानैश्चित्तशुद्धिस्तया ज्ञानञ्च लभ्यते

Transliteration

dhyānena pūjayā japyaiḥ samyak stotrairyatavrataiḥ / yajñairdānaiścittaśuddhistayā jñānañca labhyate

Translation

瞑想と礼拝、ジャパの誦持、正しく唱えられる讃歌、節制ある誓戒、祭祀と布施によって心は清められ、その清浄によって真の智（ジュニャーナ）が得られる。

Word by Word

• ध्यानेन: by meditation
• ध्यानेन: Karana (Means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्यान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन

• पूजया: by worship
• पूजया: Karana (Means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन

• जप्यैः: by recitations (things to be chanted)
• जप्यैः: Karana (Means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जप् (धातु) + य (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (यत्/य-प्रत्यय; 'to be recited'); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन

• सम्यक्: properly
• सम्यक्: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्यक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: properly)

• स्तोत्रैः: by hymns
• स्तोत्रैः: Karana (Means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्तोत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन

• यतव्रतैः: by disciplined vows
• यतव्रतैः: Karana (Means/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यत + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (यतं व्रतं येषां/यत-व्रत)

• यज्ञैः: by sacrifices
• यज्ञैः: Karana (Means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन

• दानैः: by gifts/charity
• दानैः: Karana (Means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात

• चित्तशुद्धिः: purification of the mind
• चित्तशुद्धिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चित्त + शुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (चित्तस्य शुद्धिः)

• तया: by that
• तया: Karana (Means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; स्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; 'by that (purification)'

• ज्ञानम्: knowledge
• ज्ञानम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात

• लभ्यते: is obtained
• लभ्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगः (is obtained)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Meditation, worship, japa, hymns, vows, yajña, and dāna purify the mind; from citta-śuddhi arises true knowledge.

Vedantic Theme: Sādhana-catuṣṭaya prerequisite: antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi as the ground for jñāna; karma-yoga as purifier leading to jñāna-yoga.

Application: Adopt a balanced regimen: daily dhyāna and japa, periodic pūjā/स्तोत्र, ethical vows, and regular charity; treat these as mind-training that prepares for study and contemplation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: inner landscape (citta)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.226.39 (mantra-japa leading to liberation); Garuda Purana dharma sections on dāna and yajña (contextual)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of citta-śuddhi (mind purification) in Garuda Purana?

This verse presents citta-śuddhi as the essential inner result of dharmic practices, and states that genuine knowledge (jñāna) arises from that purified state.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in Garuda Purana’s framework?

By emphasizing disciplined practice—meditation, worship, japa, yajña, and dāna—it indicates that inner purity and right understanding are the foundations for liberation-oriented living, which Garuda Purana repeatedly links with better post-death outcomes and spiritual progress.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Choose a sustainable mix of daily japa/meditation, periodic worship and stotra recitation, ethical vows (self-restraint), and regular charity—aiming not just at ritual completion but at a calmer, clearer mind that supports wise action.