Shloka 107

Mukti-tattva Upadeśa: Knowledge as the Direct Cause of Liberation

Devanagari script

अहं ब्रह्म परं धाम ब्रह्माहं परमं पदम् / एवं समीक्ष्य चात्मानमात्मन्याधाय निष्कले

Transliteration

ahaṃ brahma paraṃ dhāma brahmāhaṃ paramaṃ padam / evaṃ samīkṣya cātmānamātmanyādhāya niṣkale

Translation

“Aku ialah Brahman, kediaman tertinggi; aku ialah Brahman, kedudukan paling luhur.” Demikian merenungi Diri, letakkan diri dalam Diri—ke dalam Hakikat yang tidak berbahagi dan tanpa sifat.

Word by Word

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, उत्तमपुरुषार्थे; एकवचन; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative)

• ब्रह्म: Brahman
• ब्रह्म: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; एकवचन; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative) (समास/वाक्ये अहम् इत्यस्य विशेष्य-समनाधिकरण)

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; एकवचन; प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd; here agreeing with धाम)

• धाम: abode
• धाम: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; एकवचन; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative)

• ब्रह्म: Brahman
• ब्रह्म: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; एकवचन; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative) (समनाधिकरणे)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; एकवचन; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative)

• परमम्: highest
• परमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; एकवचन; प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd; here agreeing with पदम्)

• पदम्: state/goal
• पदम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; एकवचन; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative)

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of manner)

• समीक्ष्य: having contemplated
• समीक्ष्य: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-ईक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive); पूर्वक्रिया; ‘having examined/considered’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• आत्मानम्: the Self
• आत्मानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; एकवचन; द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative)

• आत्मनि: in the Self
• आत्मनि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; एकवचन; सप्तमी (7th/Locative)

• आधाय: having fixed (it)
• आधाय: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-धा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive); ‘having placed/fixed’

• निष्कले: in the partless (Brahman)
• निष्कले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निष्कल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; एकवचन; सप्तमी (7th/Locative) (ब्रह्मणि/आत्मनि विशेषण)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda, Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Aham-brahmasmi contemplation: recognize the Self as Brahman, the supreme abode and highest state; abide in the attributeless, partless reality.

Vedantic Theme: Mahavakya-style identity (jiva-brahma-aikya); nididhyasana culminating in nirguna-brahma abidance (nishkala).

Application: Contemplative inquiry: repeatedly negate limiting identifications (body/mind roles) and rest as witnessing awareness; integrate with ethical calm and reduced reactivity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.49.105 (pranava as support); Garuda Purana 2.49.108 (remembrance at death)

Characters & Entities

• Brahman
• Atman

FAQs

What is the importance of realizing “I am Brahman” in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents Brahma-jñāna as the direct means to transcend fear and limitation by recognizing the Self as the supreme Reality rather than the perishable body or subtle identity.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It points to liberation through inner contemplation: by discerning the Self and establishing awareness in the attributeless (niṣkala) Ātman, one moves beyond post-death states and the cycle of transmigration described elsewhere in the Preta Kanda.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice daily self-inquiry and meditation—repeating and reflecting on the identity of Ātman with Brahman—while reducing ego-based identification, cultivating steadiness, and living ethically in alignment with dharma.