Shloka 17

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

Devanagari script

मुमुक्षावथ संजाते अन्तः करणकेवले / विलापयेत्क्षेत्रजातं तत्क्षेत्रं परिशेषयेत्

Transliteration

mumukṣāvatha saṃjāte antaḥ karaṇakevale / vilāpayetkṣetrajātaṃ tatkṣetraṃ pariśeṣayet

Translation

ເມື່ອຄວາມປາຖະໜາຈະພົ້ນທຸກ (mumukṣā) ເກີດຂຶ້ນ ແລະຜູ້ປະຕິບັດສະຖິດຢູ່ໃນອິນທຣະກະຣະນະ (ໃຈ-ຈິດ) ຢ່າງບໍລິສຸດ, ຄວນລະລາຍສິ່ງທີ່ເກີດຂຶ້ນໃນ “ເຂດ” (kṣetra) ແຫ່ງກາຍແລະປະສົບການ; ເຮັດໃຫ້ເຂດນັ້ນເຫຼືອແຕ່ສ່ວນທີ່ຫຼືອນ້ອຍໆ.

Word by Word

• मुमुक्षा: desire for liberation
• मुमुक्षा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुमुक्षा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन — Nominative singular

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (Discourse marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय — particle (then)

• संजाते: when (it) has arisen
• संजाते: Adhikarana (Locative absolute/अधिकरण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-जन् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त/PPP) used as locative absolute; सप्तमी, एकवचन (नपुंसक/पुं-समासार्थे) — ‘when arisen/when it has occurred’

• अन्तःकरणकेवले: in the inner instrument alone
• अन्तःकरणकेवले: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्तःकरण + केवल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन — Locative singular; कर्मधारयः (केवलम् अन्तःकरणम्) ‘in the mind alone’

• विलापयेत्: should dissolve
• विलापयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-लाप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन — ‘should dissolve/melt away’

• क्षेत्रजातम्: that which is born in the field (body)
• क्षेत्रजातम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षेत्र + जात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन — Accusative singular; तत्पुरुषः (क्षेत्रे जातम्)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन — Demonstrative adjective

• क्षेत्रम्: the field (body)
• क्षेत्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन — Accusative singular

• परिशेषयेत्: should leave (as remainder)
• परिशेषयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-शिष् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन — ‘should leave as remainder/retain’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: When liberation-longing arises and one abides in the inner instrument alone, one should dissolve what has arisen in the field; the field is left as a mere remainder (residual appearance).

Vedantic Theme: Kṣetra–kṣetrajña viveka; laya of nāma-rūpa in awareness; progressive negation (neti-neti) leading toward non-dual recognition.

Application: In meditation, withdraw attention from body-story and sensory narratives; dissolve thoughts into their source; maintain witness stance until only minimal functional embodiment remains without ownership.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.239.16 (samādhi commencement); Garuda Purana 1.239.18 (cause-effect non-difference)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of mumuksha (desire for liberation) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats mumuksha as the turning point: when it truly arises, practice shifts inward—toward purification and steadying of the antahkarana—so worldly identifications can be dissolved.

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

It points to liberation through inner absorption: by resting in the purified inner instrument and dissolving what arises in the ‘field’ (body-mind experiences), the sense of bondage tied to the kshetra is weakened until only a residual appearance remains.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate daily inner watchfulness (mind/intellect/ego), reduce reactive identification with experiences, and practice detachment—treating thoughts and sensations as ‘field-events’ to be released rather than owned.