Shloka 16

Jīva-yonis (84 Lakhs), Rarity of Human Birth, Sense-Restraint, Craving, and Śraddhā-based Dharma

Devanagari script

आत्माधीनः पुमांल्लोके सुखी भवति निश्चितम् / शब्दः स्पर्शश्च रूपं च रसो गन्धश्च तद्गुणाः

Transliteration

ātmādhīnaḥ pumāṃlloke sukhī bhavati niścitam / śabdaḥ sparśaśca rūpaṃ ca raso gandhaśca tadguṇāḥ

Translation

ആത്മാധീനനായ പുരുഷൻ ഈ ലോകത്തിൽ തീർച്ചയായും സുഖിയായിരിക്കും. ശബ്ദം, സ്പർശം, രൂപം, രസം, ഗന്ധം—ഇവയാണ് അതിന്റെ (ഇന്ദ്രിയാനുഭവത്തിന്റെ) ഗുണങ്ങൾ.

Word by Word

• आत्माधीनः: self-controlled / dependent on oneself
• आत्माधीनः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + अधीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'आत्मनः अधीनः'), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• पुमान्: a man
• पुमान्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुमांस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• लोके: in the world
• लोके: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• सुखी: happy
• सुखी: Kartṛsāmānādhikaraṇa (Subject-complement/कर्तृसमानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुखिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• भवति: becomes / is
• भवति: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present Indicative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• निश्चितम्: certainly
• निश्चितम्: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: निश्चित (प्रातिपदिक; √निश्चि/निश्चय)
• Form: अव्ययवत् प्रयोग (adverbial accusative/neuter singular used adverbially)

• शब्दः: sound
• शब्दः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शब्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• स्पर्शः: touch
• स्पर्शः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्पर्श (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction)

• रूपम्: form
• रूपम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction)

• रसः: taste
• रसः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• गन्धः: smell
• गन्धः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction)

• तद्गुणाः: its qualities
• तद्गुणाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'तस्य गुणाः'), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Happiness arises from self-governance; sensory qualities (sound, touch, form, taste, smell) define the field to be understood and mastered.

Vedantic Theme: Indriya-viṣaya viveka; sākṣitva (witnessing) and dama (sense-control) as supports for inner peace.

Application: Practice mindful noting of sensory inputs; cultivate dama through moderation, pratyāhāra, and choosing environments that reduce overstimulation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: inner/psychological field (indriya-viṣaya)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana ethical teachings on indriya-nigraha and the causes of sukha/duḥkha; Continuation in 2.12.17 contrasting viṣayādhīnatā with duḥkha

FAQs

What is the importance of self-control (ātma-adhīnatā) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that happiness is assured for the person who is self-governed, implying that mastery over one’s impulses is foundational to dharmic living and inner peace.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s experience after death in the Garuda Purana?

By listing the sensory qualities—sound, touch, form, taste, and smell—the verse points to how attachment to sense-experience shapes one’s bondage and suffering, a theme that continues in discussions of the subtle body and post-death states.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice sense-restraint: reduce compulsive engagement with sensory pleasures, cultivate mindfulness, and choose actions aligned with dharma to stabilize the mind and increase well-being.