Shloka 7

Atma-Jnana as the Direct Means to Moksha: Advaita, Maya, and the Three States

Devanagari script

श्रवणं मननं ध्यानं ज्ञानानां चैव साधनम् / यज्ञदानतपस्तीर्थवेदैर्मुक्तिर्न लभ्यते

Transliteration

śravaṇaṃ mananaṃ dhyānaṃ jñānānāṃ caiva sādhanam / yajñadānatapastīrthavedairmuktirna labhyate

Translation

Mendengar (kebenaran), merenung, dan bermeditasi itulah sarana bagi pengetahuan rohani; pembebasan tidak diperoleh semata-mata melalui yajña, sedekah, tapa, ziarah tirtha, atau sekadar (melagukan) Veda.

Word by Word

• श्रवणम्: hearing (scriptural teaching)
• श्रवणम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रवण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (neuter, nominative singular)

• मननम्: reflection
• मननम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (neuter, nominative singular)

• ध्यानम्: meditation
• ध्यानम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्यान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (neuter, nominative singular)

• ज्ञानानाम्: of knowledges / of (true) knowledge
• ज्ञानानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन (neuter, genitive plural)

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

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-निपात (emphasis)

• साधनम्: means/instrument
• साधनम्: Karta (Predicate/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (neuter, nominative singular); विधेय (predicate nominative)

• यज्ञदानतपस्तीर्थवेदैः: by sacrifice, charity, austerity, pilgrimage, and Vedic (study)
• यज्ञदानतपस्तीर्थवेदैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक) + दान (प्रातिपदिक) + तपस् (प्रातिपदिक) + तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + वेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन (masculine, instrumental plural); इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (by sacrifices, gifts, austerities, pilgrimages, and Vedas)

• मुक्तिः: liberation
• मुक्तिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (feminine, nominative singular)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-निपात (negation)

• लभ्यते: is obtained
• लभ्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन (present, 3rd sg)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śravaṇa, manana, and dhyāna are the means to jñāna; liberation is not gained merely by yajña, dāna, tapas, tīrtha, or even mere Veda-recitation.

Vedantic Theme: Jnana-sadhana (śravaṇa-manana-nididhyāsana) as direct means; karma as auxiliary (sādhana-catuṣṭaya context).

Application: Prioritize systematic study with a teacher, reflective reasoning, and daily meditation; treat rituals/charity as supportive for purity, not as substitutes for insight.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.236.6 (no other path than identity-knowledge); Garuda Purana 1.236.8 (twofold Vedic instruction: do/renounce)

Characters & Entities

• Vedas

FAQs

What is the importance of shravana, manana, and dhyana in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states they are the direct disciplines that mature spiritual knowledge, which is the real means to liberation.

Does the Garuda Purana reject yajna, dana, tapas, tirtha, and Vedic study?

No—this verse warns that these are insufficient by themselves; without inner assimilation through hearing, reflection, and meditation, moksha is not attained.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Along with rituals and charity, commit to regular study with a teacher, daily contemplation, and meditation so practice becomes lived understanding rather than only external observance.