Shloka 16

Devanagari script

क्रमतोक्रमतो जीवो जाग्रदादि स पश्यति / समाध्यारंभकाले तु पूर्वमेवावधारयेत्

Transliteration

kramatokramato jīvo jāgradādi sa paśyati / samādhyāraṃbhakāle tu pūrvamevāvadhārayet

Translation

Setahap demi setahap, jīva (roh individu) melihat keadaan-keadaan bermula dengan jaga dan seterusnya. Namun ketika memulakan samādhi, hendaklah terlebih dahulu meneguhkan pemahaman ini dengan jelas dalam hati.

Word by Word

• क्रमतः: gradually/in sequence
• क्रमतः: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय — तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb): ‘in order/gradually’

• क्रमतः: step by step
• क्रमतः: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय — repetition for emphasis

• जीवः: the individual soul
• जीवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन — Nominative singular

• जाग्रत्-आदि: waking and the rest (states)
• जाग्रत्-आदि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जाग्रत् + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन — Accusative singular; तत्पुरुषः (जाग्रत् आदिः यस्य) meaning ‘waking etc.’

• सः: he/that (jīva)
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन — Pronoun, nominative singular

• पश्यति: sees/experiences
• पश्यति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन — ‘sees’

• समाधि-आरम्भ-काले: at the time of beginning meditation
• समाधि-आरम्भ-काले: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समाधि + आरम्भ + काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन — Locative singular; तत्पुरुषः (समाधेः आरम्भस्य कालः)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय — particle (contrast/emphasis)

• पूर्वम्: before/first
• पूर्वम्: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय — adverb (temporal)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय — emphatic particle

• अवधारयेत्: should ascertain
• अवधारयेत्: Kriya (Injunctive action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव-धृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन — ‘should ascertain/determine’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The jīva experiences waking and other states sequentially; before beginning samādhi one should first ascertain this framework clearly.

Vedantic Theme: Methodical viveka as prerequisite to nididhyāsana; stabilizing right knowledge before absorption.

Application: Before meditation, review the map of states (waking/dream/sleep) and the witness; set a clear sankalpa and object of inquiry to prevent dullness or fantasy in practice.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.239.14-15 (state analysis); Garuda Purana 1.239.17 (dissolution of kṣetra)

Characters & Entities

• Jīva
• Samādhi

FAQs

What is the importance of understanding waking and other states in the Garuda Purana?

This verse says the jīva experiences consciousness in stages (starting from waking), and that clear prior understanding of these states supports deeper spiritual practice.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul (jīva)?

It presents the soul’s experience as progressive—moving through recognizable states of awareness—implying that disciplined discernment of these experiences is part of the inner path.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Before meditation, observe and distinguish your waking, dreaming, and deep-rest patterns; then begin practice with a firm resolve and clarity about what you are witnessing.