Shloka 40

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

Devanagari script

प्राप्ता देवाश्च देवत्वं मुनित्वं मुनयो गताः / गन्धर्वत्वञ्च गन्धर्वा राजत्वञ्च नृपादयः

Transliteration

prāptā devāśca devatvaṃ munitvaṃ munayo gatāḥ / gandharvatvañca gandharvā rājatvañca nṛpādayaḥ

Translation

Para Deva mencapai keadaan ketuhanan; para muni mencapai kemunian. Para Gandharva memperoleh sifat Gandharva; dan raja-raja serta yang seumpamanya memperoleh kedaulatan raja.

Word by Word

• प्राप्ताः: having attained
• प्राप्ताः: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्राप् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृत्; पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; अर्थः: 'having attained'

• देवाः: gods
• देवाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात

• देवत्वम्: godhood
• देवत्वम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• मुनित्वम्: sagehood
• मुनित्वम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनित्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• मुनयः: sages
• मुनयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• गताः: attained
• गताः: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृत्; पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; अर्थः: 'having gone/attained'

• गन्धर्वत्वम्: Gandharva-hood
• गन्धर्वत्वम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्धर्वत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात

• गन्धर्वाः: Gandharvas
• गन्धर्वाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्धर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• राजत्वम्: kingship
• राजत्वम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात

• नृपादयः: kings and others
• नृपादयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (नृपाः आदयः = 'kings and others')

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Beings attain corresponding states (devatva, munitva, gandharvatva, rājya) according to their karmic causes and cultivated qualities.

Vedantic Theme: Guṇa-karma-vibhāga and adhikāra; relative attainments within saṃsāra contrasted with ultimate mokṣa (implied by surrounding verses).

Application: Cultivate the qualities and actions aligned with one’s chosen ideal (learning, service, leadership, artistry), while remembering that all roles are stepping-stones toward higher realization.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: cosmic-social order (loka/varṇa-like mapping)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.226.38-39 (sādhana leading to knowledge and liberation; contrasts with role-based attainments)

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Munis
• Gandharvas
• Nṛpas (kings)

FAQs

What is the importance of karma in attaining higher states like Deva or Muni in the Garuda Purana?

This verse summarizes the Garuda Purana principle that specific states (devahood, sagehood, kingship) are attained as results of corresponding merits and conduct—each being a karmic fruition rather than a random gift.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

It indicates that the jīva’s next condition is determined by accumulated karma: beings ‘reach’ an appropriate status (divine, sage, Gandharva, royal) consistent with their deeds and cultivated nature.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate the qualities of the goal you seek—truthfulness, restraint, service, and dharmic duty—since the text frames one’s future station as the natural outcome of sustained conduct and merit.