Shloka 1

Brahma-dhyāna: From Purification to Samādhi

Meditation on Brahman and Viṣṇu

Devanagari script

नाम त्रिचत्वारिंशो ऽध्यायः हरिरुवाच / पूजयित्वा पवित्राद्यैर्ब्रह्म ध्यात्वा हरिर्भवेत् / ब्रह्मध्यानं प्रवक्ष्यामि मायायन्त्रप्रमर्दकम्

Transliteration

nāma tricatvāriṃśo 'dhyāyaḥ hariruvāca / pūjayitvā pavitrādyairbrahma dhyātvā harirbhavet / brahmadhyānaṃ pravakṣyāmi māyāyantrapramardakam

Translation

Bab Empat Puluh Empat. Hari (Tuhan Vishnu) bersabda: Setelah memuja dengan upacara dan sarana penyucian bermula dengan pavitra, hendaklah seseorang bermeditasi pada Brahman dan dengan itu teguh bernaung dalam Hari. Kini Aku akan mengajarkan dhyāna atas Brahman yang menghancurkan mekanisme Māyā (khayalan).

Word by Word

• nāma: (heading:) name/title
• nāma: Sambandha (Discourse marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nāman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya; nipāta (particle/marker) used as heading indicator

• tricatvāriṃśaḥ: forty-third
• tricatvāriṃśaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tri + catvāriṃśat (प्रातिपदिक; संख्याशब्द)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st/Nominative), Ekavacana; saṅkhyā-viśeṣaṇa (numeral adjective) qualifying adhyāyaḥ

• adhyāyaḥ: chapter
• adhyāyaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adhyāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st/Nominative), Ekavacana

• hariḥ: Hari (Vishnu)
• hariḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st/Nominative), Ekavacana

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (Main verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (Perfect/परोक्शभूत), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• pūjayitvā: having worshipped
• pūjayitvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial action/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pūj (धातु)
• Form: Ktvā-pratyaya (absolutive/क्त्वान्त), avyaya; pūrvakāla-kriyā (prior action)

• pavitrādyaiḥ: with sacred (items) and the like
• pavitrādyaiḥ: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pavitra + ādi (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: Napुंसक/पुं-समूहवाचक, Tṛtīyā (3rd/Instrumental), Bahuvacana; -ādi = “and others” (ādi-śabda)

• brahma: Brahman
• brahma: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd/Accusative), Ekavacana (also possible Prathamā; here object of dhyātvā)

• dhyātvā: having meditated (on)
• dhyātvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial action/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: dhyai (धातु)
• Form: Ktvā-pratyaya (absolutive/क्त्वान्त), avyaya; pūrvakāla-kriyā

• hariḥ: Hari
• hariḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st/Nominative), Ekavacana

• bhavet: would become / should become
• bhavet: Kriyā (Main verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: Liṅ (Optative/विधिलिङ्), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• brahmadhyānam: meditation on Brahman
• brahmadhyānam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman + dhyāna (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd/Accusative), Ekavacana; brahmaṇi dhyānam = meditation on Brahman

• pravakṣyāmi: I shall explain
• pravakṣyāmi: Kriyā (Main verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra + vac (धातु)
• Form: Luṭ (Periphrastic future/परस्मैपदी भविष्यत्), Uttama-puruṣa (1st person), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• māyāyantrapramardakam: destroyer of the mechanism of illusion
• māyāyantrapramardakam: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: māyā + yantra + pramardaka (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd/Accusative), Ekavacana; brahmadhyānam qualifying: “that which crushes/destroys the machinery of māyā”

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (Hari)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual sanctification followed by Brahman-dhyana establishes one in Hari and destroys Māyā’s binding mechanism.

Vedantic Theme: Brahman-realization as the means to transcend Māyā; Hari as the realized ground of Brahman (non-dual theistic-advaitic synthesis).

Application: Begin with purification (pavitra, ācamana, mental śauca), then steady the mind in Brahman/Hari contemplation daily; treat meditation as the primary antidote to delusion and compulsive identification.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Preta-kalpa context broadly): teachings on Vishnu-smriti at death and liberation through devotion/knowledge (general thematic parallel); Garuda Purana: sections on dhyana and Vishnu-upasana (chapter-level continuity within 1.44)

Characters & Entities

• Hari
• Brahman
• Maya

FAQs

What is the importance of Brahma-dhyāna in the Garuda Purana?

This verse introduces Brahma-dhyāna as a liberating practice taught by Vishnu, specifically described as capable of destroying Māyā’s delusive hold, indicating its direct relevance to moksha.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It frames liberation as moving from ritual purity and worship into contemplative realization—meditating on Brahman—through which one becomes established in Hari (the divine reality), implying inner transformation rather than mere external rite.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Begin spiritual practice with purification and reverent worship, then commit to steady meditation aimed at seeing beyond distraction and delusion (Māyā), aligning daily life with clarity, restraint, and devotion.