Shloka 39

Mahāyoga: Detachment from ‘I/Mine’, Aṣṭāṅga Practice, Oṁkāra and Aham-Brahmāsmi Contemplation

Devanagari script

प्रणवादिकमन्त्रैश्च जप्यैर्मुक्तिं गता द्विजाः / इन्द्रो ऽपि परमं स्थानं गन्धर्वाप्सरसो वराः

Transliteration

praṇavādikamantraiśca japyairmuktiṃ gatā dvijāḥ / indro 'pi paramaṃ sthānaṃ gandharvāpsaraso varāḥ

Translation

പ്രണവം (ഓം) മുതലായ ജപയോഗ്യ മന്ത്രങ്ങളുടെ ജപംകൊണ്ട് ദ്വിജർ മുക്തി പ്രാപിക്കുന്നു. ഇന്ദ്രനും പരമസ്ഥാനത്തെത്തുന്നു; ശ്രേഷ്ഠ ഗന്ധർവരും അപ്സരസ്സുകളും കൂടെ.

Word by Word

• प्रणवादिकमन्त्रैः: by mantras beginning with praṇava
• प्रणवादिकमन्त्रैः: Karana (Means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रणव + आदि + मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (प्रणव-आदि-मन्त्राः = 'mantras beginning with praṇava')

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

• जप्यैः: by recitations
• जप्यैः: Karana (Means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जप् (धातु) + य (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (यत्/य-प्रत्यय; 'to be recited'); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन

• मुक्तिम्: liberation
• मुक्तिम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• गताः: having attained
• गताः: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृत् (past participle); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; अर्थः: 'having attained'

• द्विजाः: twice-born (Brahmins)
• द्विजाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• इन्द्रः: Indra
• इन्द्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-निपात (particle: also/even)

• परमम्: supreme
• परमम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण

• स्थानम्: abode/place
• स्थानम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• गन्धर्वाप्सरसः: Gandharvas and Apsarases
• गन्धर्वाप्सरसः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्धर्व + अप्सरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (गन्धर्वाः च अप्सरसः च)

• वराः: excellent
• वराः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण (excellent)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Moksha

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Praṇava (Oṁ) and authorized japa-mantras lead the twice-born to liberation; mantra-sādhana grants access to the supreme abode, surpassing even celestial attainments.

Vedantic Theme: Praṇava as brahma-pratīka; śabda-brahman leading to para-brahman; upāsanā culminating in mokṣa.

Application: Undertake regular praṇava-japa (as per one’s tradition and eligibility), with purity, correct intonation, and steadiness; pair with ethical living and contemplation of its meaning.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: transcendent realm

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.226.38 (citta-śuddhi leading to jñāna); Garuda Purana nāma/mantra praise passages (contextual)

Characters & Entities

• Indra
• Gandharvas
• Apsarases
• Dwijas
• Praṇava (Om)

FAQs

What is the importance of Praṇava (Oṁ) japa in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents Praṇava-led mantra recitation as a direct means to liberation (mukti), emphasizing japa as a spiritually transformative practice.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It indicates that spiritual elevation—even to the “supreme abode”—is achieved through disciplined mantra-japa, implying an inner purification that transcends ordinary heavenly status.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain a steady daily japa practice (especially Oṁ and approved mantras) with ethical living, treating mantra repetition as a disciplined spiritual sādhanā rather than mere ritual.