Shloka 34

Dharma of the Renunciant: Alms Discipline, Meditation, and Expiations

Devanagari script

यद्ब्रह्मणः परं ज्योतिः प्रविष्टाक्षरमव्ययम् । योंतरात्मा परं ब्रह्म स विज्ञेयो महेश्वरः

Transliteration

yadbrahmaṇaḥ paraṃ jyotiḥ praviṣṭākṣaramavyayam | yoṃtarātmā paraṃ brahma sa vijñeyo maheśvaraḥ

Translation

ബ്രഹ്മനേക്കാൾ അതീതമായ പരമജ്യോതി, അക്ഷരവും അവ്യയവും ആയ തത്ത്വത്തിൽ പ്രവിഷ്ടമായത്; യാതൊരു അന്തരാത്മയും പരബ്രഹ്മവും ആകുന്നവൻ—അവനെയാണ് മഹേശ്വരൻ എന്നു അറിയേണ്ടത്।

Word by Word

• yat: that which
• yat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1/2 विभक्ति), Singular (एकवचन); relative pronoun (यत्-शब्द)

• brahmaṇaḥ: from Brahman / than Brahman
• brahmaṇaḥ: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी) Singular (एकवचन) (also formally Genitive possible; here Ablative sense 'from/than')

• param: supreme, beyond
• param: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1/2 विभक्ति), Singular (एकवचन); used as विशेषण

• jyotiḥ: light, radiance
• jyotiḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jyotis (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा) Singular (एकवचन)

• praviṣṭa: entered, having entered
• praviṣṭa: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-viś (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त), Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1/2 विभक्ति), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with 'akṣaram avyayam'

• akṣaram: the imperishable (syllable/principle)
• akṣaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: a-kṣara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1/2 विभक्ति), Singular (एकवचन)

• avyayam: unchanging
• avyayam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-vyaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1/2 विभक्ति), Singular (एकवचन); used as विशेषण of 'akṣaram'

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा) Singular (एकवचन); relative pronoun

• antarātmā: the inner Self
• antarātmā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: antara + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound: antara-ātman; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा) Singular (एकवचन)

• param: supreme
• param: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1/2 विभक्ति), Singular (एकवचन); विशेषण of 'brahma'

• brahma: Brahman
• brahma: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा) Singular (एकवचन)

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा) Singular (एकवचन); demonstrative pronoun

• vijñeyaḥ: to be known, knowable
• vijñeyaḥ: Vidheyaviśeṣaṇa (विधेयविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-jñā (धातु) + ya (य)
• Form: Gerundive/obligatory participle (तव्य/य-प्रत्ययार्थ), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा) Singular (एकवचन)

• maheśvaraḥ: Maheshvara (the Great Lord)
• maheśvaraḥ: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) compound: mahā-īśvara; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा) Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Unspecified (narratorial/doctrinal statement within Svargakhaṇḍa)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: celestial_realm

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: yadbrahmaṇaḥ = yat + brahmaṇaḥ; praviṣṭākṣaramavyayam = praviṣṭa + akṣaram + avyayam; yoṃtarātmā = yaḥ + antarātmā (anusvāra/phonetic in IAST); paraṃ brahma (sandhi-less); sa vijñeyaḥ (visarga sandhi).

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Brahman
• Maheśvara (Śiva)
• Antarātmā

FAQs

Who is identified as the Supreme Brahman in this verse?

The verse identifies Maheśvara (Śiva) as the one who is the Inner Self (antarātmā) and the Supreme Brahman (paraṃ brahma).

What does “supreme light beyond Brahmā” imply here?

It presents a transcendental principle—described as supreme radiance (jyotiḥ)—that is beyond the realm of Brahmā (creation/creator), indicating an ultimate reality prior to and above cosmic creation.

What is the ethical or spiritual takeaway of calling the Lord “antarātmā”?

It emphasizes inward realization: the divine is not only external worship but also the indwelling Self, encouraging self-discipline, inner purity, and contemplation to recognize the highest reality within.