Shloka 43

Nirūpaṇa (Nāḍī–Svara-Nirūpaṇam): Breath Currents, Omens, and Action-Timing

Devanagari script

ऊर्ध्वे मृत्युरधः शान्तिस्तिर्यक् चोच्चाटयेत्सुधीः / मध्ये स्तम्भं विजानीयान्मोक्षः सर्वत्र सर्वगे

Transliteration

ūrdhve mṛtyuradhaḥ śāntistiryak coccāṭayetsudhīḥ / madhye stambhaṃ vijānīyānmokṣaḥ sarvatra sarvage

Translation

ເທິງແມ່ນຄວາມຕາຍ, ລຸ່ມແມ່ນຄວາມສະຫງົບ. ນັກປັນຍາຄວນຂັບໄລ່ສິ່ງລໍ້ລວງທີ່ດຶງໃຫ້ເບື້ອງຂ້າງ. ເມື່ອຮູ້ຈັກເສົາກາງ (ແກນໃນ) ຢູ່ກາງ ກໍເຖິງໂມກສະ—ມີຢູ່ທົ່ວໄປ ແລະໄຫຼຜ່ານທຸກສິ່ງ.

Word by Word

• ऊर्ध्वे: above
• ऊर्ध्वे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ऊर्ध्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावार्थे सप्तमी (adverbial locative: 'above')

• मृत्युः: death
• मृत्युः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृत्यु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• अधः: below
• अधः: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अधः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: 'below')

• शान्तिः: peace
• शान्तिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शान्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• तिर्यक्: sideways
• तिर्यक्: Adhikarana (Direction/दिक्-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तिर्यक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: 'horizontally/sideways')

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (conjunction: 'and')

• उच्चाटयेत्: should drive away/expel
• उच्चाटयेत्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उत्-चाट्/चाटय् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपद

• सुधीः: the wise person
• सुधीः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुधी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• मध्ये: in the middle
• मध्ये: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावार्थे सप्तमी (adverbial locative: 'in the middle')

• स्तम्भम्: pillar; stoppage
• स्तम्भम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्तम्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• विजानीयात्: should understand/recognize
• विजानीयात्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपद

• मोक्षः: liberation
• मोक्षः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• सर्वत्र: everywhere
• सर्वत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: 'everywhere')

• सर्वगे: in the all-pervading (one/state)
• सर्वगे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्वग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Masc./Neut.), सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Avoid being pulled sideways by distractions; realize the central inner pillar/axis—then liberation, all-pervading, is recognized.

Vedantic Theme: Turning from vyavahāra’s dispersal to the centered recognition of the ever-present mokṣa; movement from dualities to the pervasive reality.

Application: Practice pratyāhāra and dhāraṇā: reduce sensory scattering (‘tiryak’ pull), stabilize attention in the central channel (spine/breath awareness), and cultivate equanimity toward fear of death.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: inner yogic axis (suṣumnā-like symbolism)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: mokṣa and nāma-smaraṇa passages (contextual parallel)

FAQs

What is the importance of the 'stambha' (pillar) mentioned in this Garuda Purana verse?

It points to the inner central support—steady awareness or the spiritual axis—by knowing which the mind stops wandering and liberation becomes accessible.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in relation to death and peace?

It contrasts the upward pull toward mortality and the downward settling into peace, advising the seeker to avoid sideways distractions and stabilize in the center to realize moksha.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate steadiness: reduce diversions that scatter attention, practice daily inner stillness, and anchor life in dharmic discipline to lessen fear and strengthen liberation-oriented living.