Shloka 22

Mahāyoga: Detachment from ‘I/Mine’, Aṣṭāṅga Practice, Oṁkāra and Aham-Brahmāsmi Contemplation

Devanagari script

किञ्चित्तस्मात्परस्मिंश्च धारणा दशधा स्मृता / दशैता धारणाः प्राप्य प्राप्नोत्यक्षररूपताम्

Transliteration

kiñcittasmātparasmiṃśca dhāraṇā daśadhā smṛtā / daśaitā dhāraṇāḥ prāpya prāpnotyakṣararūpatām

Translation

Oleh itu, amalan dhāraṇā diingati sebagai sepuluh macam—sebahagiannya berkenaan diri batin ini dan sebahagiannya berkenaan Yang Maha Tertinggi. Setelah memperoleh sepuluh dhāraṇā ini, seseorang mencapai keadaan Akṣara yang tidak binasa.

Word by Word

• किञ्चित्: somewhat
• किञ्चित्: Visheshana (Adverbial qualifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किञ्चित् (सर्वनाम/अव्ययप्राय)
• Form: परिमाण/अल्पत्ववाचक-अव्यय (adverb: ‘somewhat/a little’)

• तस्मात्: from that
• तस्मात्: Apadana (Ablative/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• परस्मिन्: in the other (place/state)
• परस्मिन्: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; विशेषण

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• धारणा: concentration/retention (dhāraṇā)
• धारणा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धारणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• दशधा: in ten ways
• दशधा: Visheshana (Adverbial qualifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दशधा (अव्यय)
• Form: संख्यावाचक-प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: ‘tenfold/in ten ways’)

• स्मृता: is considered/remembered
• स्मृता: Kriya (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त-भूतकर्मणि-क्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘स्मृता’ = ‘is remembered/considered’

• दश: ten
• दश: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दशन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन (धारणाः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)

• एताः: these
• एताः: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम-विशेषण

• धारणाः: dhāraṇās (concentrations)
• धारणाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धारणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• प्राप्य: having attained
• प्राप्य: Purvakala (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-आप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive): ‘having attained’

• प्राप्नोति: attains
• प्राप्नोति: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-आप् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• अक्षर-रूपताम्: the state/form of the imperishable syllable
• अक्षर-रूपताम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक) + रूपता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (अक्षरस्य रूपता)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Tenfold dhāraṇā—some oriented to the inner self, some to the Supreme—culminating in realization of the imperishable (Akṣara).

Vedantic Theme: From upāsanā (supported meditation) to akṣara-brahma-prāpti; gradual interiorization leading to non-decay (nitya) awareness.

Application: Structure practice: (1) stabilize attention on chosen supports; (2) alternate ‘self-inquiry’ focus with ‘Supreme’ focus; (3) maintain continuity daily; measure progress by reduced distraction and increased equanimity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: inner contemplative field (this self and the Supreme)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.226.21 (supports/locations); Garuda Purana 1.226.23-25 (Oṃ-japa; A-U-M; half-mātrā)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Akshara

FAQs

What is the importance of tenfold dhāraṇā in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames dhāraṇā (concentrated inner holding) as a structured tenfold discipline, presented as a direct means to reach the imperishable (Akṣara) state—i.e., liberation-oriented realization rather than merely mental focus.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul toward liberation?

It links disciplined concentration to transformation of one’s state: by mastering the prescribed dhāraṇās—directed toward the self and toward the Supreme—the practitioner transcends changeability and attains Akṣara, the imperishable reality.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Adopt consistent concentration practice: steady the mind on the inner self (ethical self-discipline and attention) and on the Supreme (devotional/meditative focus), treating practice as progressive training rather than occasional contemplation.