Shloka 18

Brahman Beyond the Elements and the Three States (Turīya) — Dhyāna Leading to Brahma-realization

Devanagari script

अधुना कथयाम्यन्यत्किन्तद्ब्रूहि वृषध्वज

Transliteration

adhunā kathayāmyanyatkintadbrūhi vṛṣadhvaja

Translation

ഇപ്പോൾ ഞാൻ മറ്റൊന്നും പറയുന്നു; എന്നാൽ ഇതു പറയുക, ഹേ വൃഷധ്വജ.

Word by Word

• अधुना: now
• अधुना: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अधुना (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• कथयामि: I tell/relate
• कथयामि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथय् (धातु; णिजन्त causative of कथ्)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान/Present), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अन्यत्: another (thing)
• अन्यत्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म/Accusative), एकवचन

• किम्: what?
• किम्: Karman/Prashna (Interrogative/प्रश्न)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; प्रश्नार्थक

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; निर्देशार्थक

• ब्रूहि: tell (you)
• ब्रूहि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (आज्ञार्थ/Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• वृषध्वज: O bull-bannered one (Śiva)
• वृषध्वज: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृष (प्रातिपदिक) + ध्वज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: वृषः ध्वजः यस्य सः (बहुव्रीहि); पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (vocative), एकवचन

Speaker

Garuda (Vinata-putra), addressing a deity titled Vṛṣadhvaja (Śiva)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: dialogue setting (guru-disciple/Deva-saṃvāda)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.92.1 (Rudra’s request for Viṣṇu-dhyāna)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Vṛṣadhvaja)

FAQs

What is the importance of addressing Vṛṣadhvaja in the Garuda Purana?

This verse uses the epithet Vṛṣadhvaja to mark a direct, respectful address to a revered deity (commonly Śiva), signaling a shift into a question-and-answer style transmission of dharmic knowledge.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By itself it does not describe the soul’s journey; it functions as a narrative hinge—introducing a new topic and prompting clarification—typical of sections that lead into teachings on dharma and post-death matters elsewhere in the text.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Adopt the method implied here: learn by asking precise questions and listening carefully before moving to the next topic—useful for studying dharma, rites, and ethical decision-making.