Shloka 37

Brahma-vidyā through Yoga: Restraint, Pranava Japa, and Samādhi leading to Mokṣa

Devanagari script

तद्व्रतं निश्चलीभूतं सूय्यस्थं स्थिरतां व्रजेत् / न विना परमात्मानं किञ्चिज्जगति विद्यते

Transliteration

tadvrataṃ niścalībhūtaṃ sūyyasthaṃ sthiratāṃ vrajet / na vinā paramātmānaṃ kiñcijjagati vidyate

Translation

Biarlah ikrar itu menjadi tidak tergoyahkan dan mencapai keteguhan, bersemayam dalam Surya—saksi batin yang bercahaya. Kerana di dunia ini tiada sesuatu pun wujud selain Paramātman, Diri Tertinggi.

Word by Word

• तद्-व्रतम्: that observance/vow (discipline)
• तद्-व्रतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक) + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular)

• निश्चली-भूतम्: made motionless
• निश्चली-भूतम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निश्चली (प्रातिपदिक) + भू (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (Past passive participle) of भूत; नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular)

• सूय्य-स्थम्: placed in the sun (sūrya)
• सूय्य-स्थम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सूय्य/सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular)

• स्थिरताम्: steadiness
• स्थिरताम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थिरता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• व्रजेत्: should attain/go to
• व्रजेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्रज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negative particle)

• विना: without
• विना: Apadana (Separation/अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विना (अव्यय)
• Form: उपपद-निपात (prepositional indeclinable) governing द्वितीया (accusative)

• परम-आत्मानम्: the Supreme Self
• परम-आत्मानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• किञ्चित्: anything
• किञ्चित्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा (Nominative, 1st), एकवचन (Singular); अनिश्चित/अल्पार्थ (indefinite)

• जगति: in the world
• जगति: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी (Locative, 7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• विद्यते: exists
• विद्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Maintain an unwavering vow of steadiness, abiding in the luminous witness; realize the all-pervasive Paramātman as the sole reality underlying the world.

Vedantic Theme: Sarvaṃ khalvidaṃ brahma / ekam eva advitīyam: the world is not separate from the Supreme Self; consciousness as the illumining principle.

Application: Anchor practice in the sense of inner luminosity (witness-awareness) and reinforce non-separateness in daily life: see all beings/events as expressions of the same Self, reducing reactivity and egoic division.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: celestial symbol within the body-mind

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.235.33-36 (samādhi, Brahman-mergence, obstacles, and stabilizing methods)

Characters & Entities

• Paramatman
• Surya

FAQs

What is the importance of making a vrata (vow) unwavering in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that a vow must become niścala (unshaken) and lead to inner steadiness; such firmness supports spiritual realization rather than being a merely external ritual.

How does this verse explain the ultimate reality behind the world?

It declares that nothing in the jagat exists apart from Paramātman, framing all phenomena as dependent on the Supreme Self as their ground.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Keep spiritual disciplines consistent (daily japa, charity, truthfulness), cultivate mental steadiness, and remember that all experiences are sustained by the one Supreme Self—reducing fear, distraction, and ego-driven action.