Shloka 16

Paramparā (Transmission), Rudra’s Viṣṇu-Dhyāna, and the Garuḍa Purāṇa’s Origin-Impulse

Devanagari script

युक्ता सर्वात्मनात्मानं तं देवं चिन्तयाम्यहम् / यस्मिन्विश्वानि भूतानि तिष्ठन्ति च विशन्ति च

Transliteration

yuktā sarvātmanātmānaṃ taṃ devaṃ cintayāmyaham / yasminviśvāni bhūtāni tiṣṭhanti ca viśanti ca

Translation

യോഗയുക്തനായി ഞാൻ സമഗ്രാത്മാവോടെ ആ ദേവൻ—സർവ്വാത്മാവ്—നെ ധ്യാനിക്കുന്നു; അവനിൽ സർവ്വഭൂതങ്ങളും നിലകൊള്ളുന്നു, അവനിലേക്കുതന്നെ വീണ്ടും പ്രവേശിക്കുന്നു।

Word by Word

युक्ताbeing engaged/connected

सर्वात्मनाwith the whole self; with all one’s being

आत्मानम्the Self

तम्that (him)

देवम्the god; the divine one

चिन्तयामिI contemplate/meditate upon

अहम्I

यस्मिन्in whom/wherein

विश्वानिall

भूतानिbeings

तिष्ठन्तिstand/abide

चand

विशन्तिenter

चand

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (as the teaching voice addressing Garuḍa/Vinātā‑putra in the opening devotional context)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Sarvatmabhava and laya: all beings rest in the Supreme Self and return into Him; meditation as union (yukta) with the All-Self.

Vedantic Theme: Brahman as upadana-nimitta karana; antaryamin; jagat-adhisthana and pralaya-laya.

Application: Daily dhyana on Vishnu as the indwelling Self of all; cultivate non-separateness in conduct (ahimsa, compassion) by seeing all beings in Him.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Brahma-khanda) opening invocations to Vishnu as sarvatman; Garuda Purana: Vishnu as adhara of jagat and pralaya-laya themes recur in dharma/moksha sections

Characters & Entities

Deva (Supreme Lord)

Ātman (Self)

Bhūtāni (all beings)

FAQs

What is the importance of meditating on the Sarvātman (Self of all) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames the Supreme as the indwelling Self of all beings; such meditation is presented as the spiritual foundation that supports dharma and prepares the mind for liberation-oriented understanding.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By stating that all beings abide in the Divine and enter into Him again, it points to the soul’s ultimate dependence on the Supreme—birth, life, and dissolution are encompassed within that higher Reality.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice steady remembrance/meditation on the Divine as present in all beings; it strengthens ethical conduct, reduces fear of change and death, and aligns daily actions with dharma.