Shloka 20

Kula-amṛta: Śiva’s Teaching to Nārada on Viṣṇu-Dhyāna and Mokṣa

Devanagari script

तमेव सततन्ध्यायन्निर्व्ययं ब्रह्म निष्कलम् / अवाप्स्यसि ध्रुवं तात ! शाश्वतं पदमव्ययम्

Transliteration

tameva satatandhyāyannirvyayaṃ brahma niṣkalam / avāpsyasi dhruvaṃ tāta ! śāśvataṃ padamavyayam

Translation

അവനെയേ നിരന്തരം ധ്യാനിക്ക—അവ്യയനും നിഷ്കലനും ആയ ബ്രഹ്മത്തെ; ഹേ വത്സ, നീ നിശ്ചയമായി ശാശ്വതവും അചലവും ആയ പദം പ്രാപിക്കും।

Word by Word

• तम्: him/that (one)
• तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे/नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचनम् (Accusative singular)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्ययम्; अवधारणार्थक (emphatic)

• सततम्: constantly
• सततम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सतत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण अव्ययवत् (adverbial accusative)

• ध्यायन्: meditating
• ध्यायन्: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ध्यै (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्तम्; पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम् (present active participle, nominative sg)

• निर्व्ययम्: imperishable
• निर्व्ययम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर् + व्यय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (Accusative singular neuter)

• ब्रह्म: Brahman, the Absolute
• ब्रह्म: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचनम् (Accusative singular)

• निष्कलम्: partless, without divisions
• निष्कलम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निः + कल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (Accusative singular neuter)

• अवाप्स्यसि: you will attain
• अवाप्स्यसि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव + आप् (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकारः (भविष्यत्कालः/Future), मध्यमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्, परस्मैपदम्

• ध्रुवम्: surely, certainly
• ध्रुवम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ध्रुव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण अव्ययवत् (adverbial accusative)

• तात: dear son
• तात: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचनम् (Vocative singular)

• शाश्वतम्: eternal
• शाश्वतम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शाश्वत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (Accusative singular neuter)

• पदम्: state, abode
• पदम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचनम् (Accusative singular)

• अव्ययम्: unchanging, imperishable
• अव्ययम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + व्यय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (Accusative singular neuter)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Constant meditation on the imperishable, partless Brahman (identified with the Supreme) leads certainly to the eternal state.

Vedantic Theme: Nirguna/akshara-brahman contemplation culminating in paramapada; steadiness (nitya-dhyana) as direct means to liberation.

Application: Daily fixed-time meditation on the Supreme with single-object focus; reduce distractions; maintain remembrance (smarana) throughout actions.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Uttara/Preta sections): praise of Vishnu-nama and smarana as liberating; Garuda Purana: teachings on akshara-brahman and paramapada in moksha-oriented chapters

Characters & Entities

• Brahman

FAQs

What is the importance of constant meditation in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents uninterrupted meditation on the Imperishable (Brahman/Vishnu) as a direct means to attain the eternal, unchanging state—i.e., liberation rather than continued wandering in samsara.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It emphasizes inner realization: by fixing the mind on the partless, imperishable Reality, the soul transcends change and reaches the stable (dhruva) state, implying release from post-death transitions and rebirth.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Adopt daily, steady remembrance—japa, contemplation, or focused prayer—aiming at consistency (satata) rather than occasional intensity, aligning life toward detachment and spiritual clarity.