Shloka 2

Mahālakṣmī’s Forms, Brahmā’s Fourfold Origin, Vāyu’s Names and Soteriology, and Bhāratī’s Manifestations

Devanagari script

ईशादन्यस्य जगतो ह्यात्मो लोचन एव तु / विषयीकुरुते तत्स्याज्ज्ञानं लक्ष्म्याः प्रकीर्तितम्

Transliteration

īśādanyasya jagato hyātmo locana eva tu / viṣayīkurute tatsyājjñānaṃ lakṣmyāḥ prakīrtitam

Translation

Bagi dunia yang selain daripada Tuhan, Ātman hanyalah saksi—seperti mata; apabila ia menjadikan objek-objek sebagai tumpuan dan mengidentifikasikan diri dengannya, itulah yang diproklamasikan sebagai “pengetahuan Lakṣmī”.

Word by Word

• ईशात्: from the Lord
• ईशात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; अपादान (ablative)

• अन्यस्य: of another, different
• अन्यस्य: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘jagataḥ’)

• जगतः: of the world
• जगतः: Sambandha/Ṣaṣṭhī (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात; हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थ (particle: indeed/for)

• आत्मा: self, essence
• आत्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• लोचनः: eye
• लोचनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; आत्मा-इत्यस्य विशेषण/अप्पोजिशन

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

• तु: but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अन्वयार्थक निपात (particle: but/indeed)

• विषयीकरुते: objectifies, makes (it) an object
• विषयीकरुते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विषयी√कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; causative/denominative sense “to make into an object, to objectify”

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; वाक्योपसंहारार्थ (referring to the foregoing)

• स्यात्: would be / is said to be
• स्यात्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ज्ञानम्: knowledge
• ज्ञानम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; predicate nominative

• लक्ष्म्याः: of Lakṣmī
• लक्ष्म्याः: Sambandha/Ṣaṣṭhī (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• प्रकीर्तितम्: proclaimed, declared
• प्रकीर्तितम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र√कीर्त् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि/भूतकृत् (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘ज्ञानम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Atman as sākṣin (witness) to the non-Ishvara world; objectification/identification (viṣayīkaraṇa) marks the shift into worldly cognition tied to Lakshmi (prosperity/experience).

Vedantic Theme: Sākṣī-caitanya vs. viṣaya-bhoga; viveka between seer and seen (dṛg-dṛśya).

Application: Practice witness-awareness in daily life; notice when attention turns into identification with objects, status, or wealth, and re-establish sakshi-bhava.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: didactic passages on jnana, viveka, and the distinction between atman and body/mind (general internal thematic parallel)

Characters & Entities

• Isha (the Lord)
• Atman (Self)
• Lakshmi

FAQs

What is the importance of ‘Lakshmi-jnana’ in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames Lakṣmī-related knowledge as discernment: the Self is a witness, but when it turns toward and identifies with objects, prosperity and its pursuit become a defining theme requiring right understanding.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It indicates that bondage begins when the witnessing Self ‘objectifies’ and clings to sense-objects; recognizing oneself as the witness supports detachment and clearer spiritual direction.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice seeing experiences as objects of awareness rather than identity—reduce compulsive consumption, cultivate ethical earning, and treat wealth as stewardship rather than the Self.