Shloka 8

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

Devanagari script

सर्वं शरीरजातं च प्राणिनां स्थूलमीरितम् / त्रिधाह्रि परमात्मस्थं शरीरं प्रोच्यते बुधैः

Transliteration

sarvaṃ śarīrajātaṃ ca prāṇināṃ sthūlamīritam / tridhāhri paramātmasthaṃ śarīraṃ procyate budhaiḥ

Translation

ທຸກສິ່ງທີ່ເກີດເປັນໂຄງຮ່າງຂອງສັດມີຊີວິດ ຖືກກ່າວວ່າເປັນ «ຮ່າງກາຍຫຍາບ». ແຕ່ບັນດາບຸນຍາຊົນກ່າວອີກວ່າ ຮ່າງກາຍມີສາມປະເພດ ແລະ ອາໄສຢູ່ໃນ ປະຣະມາດຕະມັນ (Paramātman).

Word by Word

• सर्वम्: all/entire
• सर्वम्: Visheshana (Adjective of शरीरजातम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन

• शरीरजातम्: that which is born of the body / bodily aggregate
• शरीरजातम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरीर (प्रातिपदिक) + जात (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; जन्-धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमासः (शरीरात् जातम्/शरीरे जातम्)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• प्राणिनाम्: of living beings
• प्राणिनाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राणिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• स्थूलम्: gross
• स्थूलम्: Predicate adjective (विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्थूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन

• ईरितम्: is declared/said
• ईरितम्: Predicate adjective (विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ईर् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन

• त्रिधा: in three ways
• त्रिधा: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: त्रिधा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: in three ways)

• अह्रि: (particle; reading uncertain)
• अह्रि: Sambandha (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अह्रि (अव्यय/निपात)
• Form: पाठभेद/निपातः; अर्थे ‘अथ/अत्र/इह’ इति (particle; uncertain)

• परमात्मस्थम्: abiding in the Supreme Self
• परमात्मस्थम्: Visheshana (Adjective of शरीरम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परमात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थ (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; स्था-धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमासः (परमात्मनि स्थितम्)

• शरीरम्: body
• शरीरम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• प्रोच्यते: is proclaimed
• प्रोच्यते: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive); उपसर्गः प्र

• बुधैः: by the wise
• बुधैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (addressing Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: All embodied frames are ‘gross’ in one sense; yet the wise teach a threefold body (commonly read as sthūla-sūkṣma-kāraṇa) resting in the Paramātman.

Vedantic Theme: Ādhāra-ādheya-bhāva: bodies and their layers depend on the Supreme; kośa/śarīra-traya viveka as a direct aid to liberation.

Application: Practice śarīra-traya viveka: ‘I am not the gross body, not the subtle mind-breath complex, not the causal ignorance’; rest attention in the witnessing Self/Paramātman during daily activities.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: metaphysical ground

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.239.4-7 (prāṇas, antahkaraṇa, buddhi, pañcīkaraṇa, gross body)

Characters & Entities

• Paramatma

FAQs

What is the importance of the gross body (sthūla śarīra) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse defines the physical body as the “gross” form, establishing the foundation for later teachings on how the jīva relates to other body-levels during death, karma, and rebirth.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

By distinguishing the gross body from a threefold understanding of “body,” it implies that the soul’s journey is not limited to the physical frame; the jīva continues with subtler principles that are said to abide under the Supreme Self’s order.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Identify the body as an instrument rather than the self; live with restraint and dharma, remembering that inner conduct (qualities like hri/modesty) shapes karma beyond the physical lifespan.