Shloka 119

Devanagari script

किञ्चिद्वर्णसमायुक्तं शेषमूर्ति मतिस्फुटम् / सुप्ता प्रबुद्धा द्विविधा शेषमूर्तिरुदाहृता

Transliteration

kiñcidvarṇasamāyuktaṃ śeṣamūrti matisphuṭam / suptā prabuddhā dvividhā śeṣamūrtirudāhṛtā

Translation

ശേഷമൂർത്തി അല്പം വർണ്ണം ചേർന്നതും ബോധം അസ്പഷ്ടവുമെന്നു പറയുന്നു. ഈ ശേഷമൂർത്തി രണ്ടു തരമെന്ന് പ്രഖ്യാപിക്കുന്നു—സുപ്ത (നിദ്രിത)യും പ്രബുദ്ധ (ജാഗ്രത)യും.

Word by Word

• किञ्चित्: somewhat/a little
• किञ्चित्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किञ्चित् (अव्यय/सर्वनाम)
• Form: अव्यय; परिमाणवाचक/अल्पार्थक (indeclinable quantifier)

• वर्णसमायुक्तम्: endowed with some color(s)
• वर्णसमायुक्तम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर्ण-सम्-युक्त (प्रातिपदिक; युज्-धातुज कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; agrees with शेषमूर्ति(म्); तत्पुरुष (वर्णैः सम्यक् युक्तम्)

• शेषमूर्तिम्: the Śeṣa-image
• शेषमूर्तिम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शेष-मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; (पाठे शेषमूर्ति = शेषमूर्तिम्)

• अतिस्फुटम्: very clear/distinct
• अतिस्फुटम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति-स्फुट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अव्ययीभाव (अति + स्फुट)

• सुप्ता: sleeping
• सुप्ता: विधेय (Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुप्त (प्रातिपदिक; स्वप्-धातुज कृदन्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्यय; predicate adjective (one type)

• प्रबुद्धा: awakened
• प्रबुद्धा: विधेय (Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-बुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक; बुध्-धातुज कृदन्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्यय; predicate adjective (other type)

• द्विविधा: twofold
• द्विविधा: विधेय (Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि-विध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्विगु (द्वौ विधौ यस्याः/या)

• शेषमूर्तिः: the Śeṣa-image
• शेषमूर्तिः: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शेष-मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष

• उदाहृता: is declared/said
• उदाहृता: विधेय (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्-आ-हृ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; past passive participle

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śeṣa-mūrti (residual form) has indistinct cognition and exists in two modes: dormant and awakened.

Vedantic Theme: Avasthā-traya style thinking (states) applied to subtle potency; distinction between latent and manifest consciousness/energy.

Application: Self-observation practice: notice ‘dormant’ vs ‘awakened’ tendencies (clarity, attention, ethical impulse); cultivate awakening through disciplined routine, mantra, and sattvic living.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: inner subtle realm (sūkṣma-śarīra discourse)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.26.120 (awakened form with many hoods); Garuda Purana 3.26.121 (mokṣa-giving progression through chakras/levels)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of śeṣa-mūrti in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames śeṣa-mūrti as a “residual” subtle form whose consciousness can be dormant or awakened, helping explain how awareness and identity persist in transitional states.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By distinguishing dormant and awakened modes of the residual form, it implies that the soul’s journey is shaped by the clarity or obscurity of cognition during subtle existence, affecting experience and perception in transition.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivating clarity of mind and ethical discipline supports steadier awareness in life’s transitions; practices that refine attention and conduct are presented as aligning consciousness toward an “awakened” state.