Shloka 97

Devanagari script

कूटस्थः स्वच्छरूपश्च सर्वदेहविवर्जितः / चक्षुरिन्द्रियहीनश्च वागिन्द्रियविवर्जितः(६००)

Transliteration

kūṭasthaḥ svaccharūpaśca sarvadehavivarjitaḥ / cakṣurindriyahīnaśca vāgindriyavivarjitaḥ(600)

Translation

അവൻ കൂറ്റസ്ഥൻ, അചല ആത്മാവ്; നിർമല-ശുദ്ധ സ്വരൂപം, എല്ലാ ദേഹങ്ങളിൽ നിന്നും വിമുക്തൻ. അവൻ ചക്ഷു-ഇന്ദ്രിയത്തിന് അതീതനും വാക്-ഇന്ദ്രിയത്തിൽ നിന്നും വിവർജിതനും ആകുന്നു।

Word by Word

• कूटस्थः: unchanging; abiding in the immutable
• कूटस्थः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कूटस्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (कूटे तिष्ठति इति/कूटे स्थितः)

• स्वच्छरूपः: of pure/clear form
• स्वच्छरूपः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वच्छ (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (स्वच्छं रूपं यस्य/स्वच्छ-रूपः)

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

• सर्वदेहविवर्जितः: devoid of all bodies
• सर्वदेहविवर्जितः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + देह (प्रातिपदिक) + विवर्जित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √वृज्/√वर्ज् धातु; क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (सर्वैः देहैः विवर्जितः = devoid of all bodies)

• चक्षुः: eye; sight
• चक्षुः: Sambandha (Qualifier/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्षुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• इन्द्रियहीनः: devoid of senses
• इन्द्रियहीनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक) + हीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (इन्द्रियैः हीनः = without senses)

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

• वाक्: speech
• वाक्: Sambandha (Qualifier/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; हलन्त-रूप (वाक्)

• इन्द्रियविवर्जितः: deprived of sense-faculties
• इन्द्रियविवर्जितः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक) + विवर्जित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √वृज्/√वर्ज्; क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (इन्द्रियैः विवर्जितः = deprived of sense-faculties)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Supreme/Ātman is kūṭastha (immutable), pure, bodiless, and beyond sensory organs—realization of this ends bondage.

Vedantic Theme: Neti-neti and nirguṇa orientation: Self is not the body or senses; witness-consciousness beyond instruments of knowledge/action.

Application: Practice self-inquiry and disidentification from sensory narratives; cultivate silence, meditation, and ethical clarity to stabilize in witness-awareness.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: metaphysical (Self)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.15 (metaphysical climax: kūṭastha, indriya-vivarjita)

FAQs

What is the importance of the kūṭastha (immutable Self) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse stresses that the true Self is unchanging and not confined to any physical form, supporting liberation-oriented understanding beyond bodily identity.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It frames the soul’s essence as independent of sensory organs and bodily form, implying that the soul’s journey and fate are not the body itself but the subtle continuity shaped by knowledge and karma.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice detachment from body-based identity and cultivate self-inquiry and ethical living, remembering that awareness is deeper than sensory experience and speech.