Shloka 9

Brahma-vidyā through Yoga: Restraint, Pranava Japa, and Samādhi leading to Mokṣa

Devanagari script

अलोलुपमिदं भुङ्क्ते जठरं तस्य संयतम् / सत्यं हितं मितं ब्रूते यस्माद्वाक्तस्य संयता

Transliteration

alolupamidaṃ bhuṅkte jaṭharaṃ tasya saṃyatam / satyaṃ hitaṃ mitaṃ brūte yasmādvāktasya saṃyatā

Translation

അവൻ ലാഭമില്ലാതെ ആഹാരം ഭുജിക്കുന്നു; അതിനാൽ അവന്റെ ജഠരം സംയമിതമാണ്. അവൻ സത്യം, ഹിതം, മിതമായി സംസാരിക്കുന്നു; അതിനാൽ അവന്റെ വാക്കും സംയതമാണ്.

Word by Word

• अलोलुपम्: non-greedy, not covetous
• अलोलुपम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-लोलुप (प्रातिपदिक; लोलुप + नञ्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषण (neuter nom/acc sg, adjective)

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• भुङ्क्ते: eats, consumes
• भुङ्क्ते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद (present indicative, 3rd sg, middle)

• जठरम्: belly, stomach
• जठरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जठर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन (acc sg)

• तस्य: of him/its
• तस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (gen sg)

• संयतम्: restrained, controlled
• संयतम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-यम् (धातु) + त (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषण (past participle, neuter nom/acc sg)

• सत्यम्: truth
• सत्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; कर्मपद (acc sg)

• हितम्: what is beneficial
• हितम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हित (प्रातिपदिक; √धा/√हि + क्त/निष्पन्न)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; कर्मपद (acc sg)

• मितम्: measured, moderate
• मितम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मा (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; विशेषण/कर्म (measured, moderate; acc sg)

• ब्रूते: speaks
• ब्रूते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद (present indicative, 3rd sg, middle)

• यस्मात्: because of which/whence
• यस्मात्: Hetu/Apadana (Cause/Ablative/हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, पञ्चमी (5), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (abl sg)

• वाक्: speech
• वाक्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन (nom sg)

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (gen sg)

• संयता: restrained, controlled
• संयता: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-यम् (धातु) + त (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; विशेषण (past participle, fem nom sg)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Restraint of appetite and speech (āhāra- and vāk-samyama) as foundations of self-mastery.

Vedantic Theme: Indriya-nigraha and antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi as prerequisites for higher yoga/knowledge.

Application: Practice mindful eating (avoid greed), and speak only what is true, beneficial, and measured; adopt daily vows of moderation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.235.10 (samyama surpassing tapas/adhvara); Garuda Purana 1.235.11 (dhyāna methods)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of self-restraint in the Garuda Purana?

This verse links inner discipline to two daily gateways of karma—food and speech—teaching that freedom from greed and measured truthfulness are marks of a controlled life (saṃyama) that supports Dharma.

How does this verse explain control over the senses?

It highlights practical sense-control: the tongue is restrained in eating by absence of greed, and the tongue is restrained in speaking by truth that is also beneficial and measured—showing restraint as a lived habit, not mere austerity.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Eat without craving or excess, and speak only what is true, helpful, and proportionate—reducing harm, improving clarity, and strengthening ethical self-governance.