Shloka 25

From Brahman to the Elements: Subtle–Gross Body, Prāṇa, States of Consciousness, and Mahāvākya Realization

Devanagari script

अयमात्मा परं ज्योतिश्चिन्नामानन्दरूपकः / सत्यं ज्ञानमनतं हि त्वमसीति श्रुतीरितम्

Transliteration

ayamātmā paraṃ jyotiścinnāmānandarūpakaḥ / satyaṃ jñānamanataṃ hi tvamasīti śrutīritam

Translation

このアートマンは至上の光であり、意識・名・歓喜（アーナンダ）の本性をもつ。シュルティは「汝はそれなり（タット・トヴァム・アシ）」と宣言する—真理と智である無限の実在として。

Word by Word

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• आत्मा: Self
• आत्मा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nominative/Accusative 1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• ज्योतिः: light
• ज्योतिः: Pratijna/Predicate (प्रत्यय/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्योतिस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nominative/Accusative 1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• चित्: consciousness
• चित्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चित् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (अव्ययवत्/अप्रचलित-रूप), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); तत्त्व-शब्दः

• नाम: indeed/namely
• नाम: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात-अव्यय (particle), ‘indeed/namely’ अर्थे

• आनन्दरूपकः: having the form of bliss
• आनन्दरूपकः: Pratijna/Predicate (प्रत्यय/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आनन्द + रूपक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘आनन्दस्य रूपकः/रूपः’

• सत्यम्: truth
• सत्यम्: Pratijna/Predicate (प्रत्यय/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nominative/Accusative 1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• ज्ञानम्: knowledge
• ज्ञानम्: Pratijna/Predicate (प्रत्यय/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nominative/Accusative 1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• अनन्तम्: infinite
• अनन्तम्: Pratijna/Predicate (प्रत्यय/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nominative/Accusative 1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात-अव्यय (particle), हेतौ/निश्चये (for emphasis/indeed)

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: मध्यम-पुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• असि: are
• असि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), मध्यम-पुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण-निपात (quotative particle)

• श्रुति-ईरितम्: declared by the Śruti
• श्रुति-ईरितम्: Pratijna/Predicate (प्रत्यय/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रुति (प्रातिपदिक) + ईरित (कृदन्त, √ईर्/ईरय्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nominative/Accusative 1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘श्रुतेः ईरितम्’ (uttered by the Śruti); ईरित = क्त-प्रत्यय (past passive participle)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ātman as parama-jyotis; Brahman characterized as satya-jñāna-ānanda/ananta; identity teaching ‘tat tvam asi’.

Vedantic Theme: Nondual identity of individual self and infinite Brahman; Brahman as truth-consciousness-infinity; light as metaphor for self-revealing awareness.

Application: Śravaṇa-manana-nididhyāsana on ‘tat tvam asi’: trace awareness as self-luminous, disentangle from names/forms, rest in satya-jñāna; use ‘light of awareness’ contemplation during meditation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.239.24 (mahavakya knowledge vs ignorance); Garuda Purana 1.239.26 (all-pervading Brahman; Aditya-Purusha identity)

Characters & Entities

• Atman
• Shruti (Vedas)
• Brahman (implied)

FAQs

What is the importance of knowing the Atman in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that realizing the Self as the supreme Light—truth, knowledge, and infinite—aligns with Śruti and points to liberation (moksha) beyond fear and bondage.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It frames the soul’s true identity as non-limited consciousness and bliss; the ‘path’ culminates not merely in post-death destinations but in Self-knowledge expressed by “tvam asi” (you are That).

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice self-inquiry and ethical living grounded in the view that the same conscious Reality shines in all; this reduces attachment, fear of death, and harmful actions.