Shloka 9

Gītā-sāra: The Self as Witness and the Inner Ascent into Brahman

Devanagari script

इन्द्रियग्राममखिलं मनसाभिनिवेश्य च / मनश्चैवाप्यहङ्कारे प्रतिष्ठाप्य च पाण्डव

Transliteration

indriyagrāmamakhilaṃ manasābhiniveśya ca / manaścaivāpyahaṅkāre pratiṣṭhāpya ca pāṇḍava

Translation

Recolhendo na mente todo o conjunto dos sentidos e, em seguida, estabelecendo a própria mente no senso de eu (ahaṅkāra)—ó Pāṇḍava—(prossegue-se para o interior).

Word by Word

• इन्द्रियग्रामम्: the collection of senses
• इन्द्रियग्रामम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक) + ग्राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (इन्द्रियाणां ग्रामः)

• अखिलम्: entire
• अखिलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अखिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (इन्द्रियग्रामम्)

• मनसा: by the mind
• मनसा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• अभिनिवेश्य: having fixed/inserted
• अभिनिवेश्य: Kriya (Adverbial action/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-नि-विश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having fixed/placed (in)’

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

• मनः: mind
• मनः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

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

• एव: indeed; just
• एव: Sambandha/Modifier (सम्बन्ध/विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधारण (particle of emphasis)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha/Modifier (सम्बन्ध/विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय/अपि-भाव (also/even)

• अहङ्कारे: in the ego-sense
• अहङ्कारे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहङ्कार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• प्रतिष्ठाप्य: having established
• प्रतिष्ठाप्य: Kriya (Adverbial action/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति-स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having established’

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

• पाण्डव: O Pāṇḍava
• पाण्डव: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाण्डव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction, as framed in Garuda–Vishnu dialogue)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Pratyahara-like withdrawal: senses are gathered into mind; mind is then fixed into ahamkara as a step in laya (involution) toward the Self.

Vedantic Theme: Antahkarana-samyama as preparatory discipline for Self-knowledge; moving from outward multiplicity to inner unity.

Application: Meditation method: close sensory loops (sound/sight/touch etc.) into mindful awareness; then observe the ‘I’-sense that appropriates experience; remain as witness of that appropriation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.237.10 (further nyasa into buddhi→prakriti→purusha→brahman)

Characters & Entities

• Pāṇḍava

FAQs

What is the importance of withdrawing the senses in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents the inner discipline of drawing the senses back into the mind, a prerequisite for clarity at death and for spiritual steadiness beyond bodily identification.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By indicating a movement from sense-activity to mind, and from mind to ego-awareness, it points to the subtle layers that bind the jīva; recognizing and mastering them supports liberation-oriented understanding.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice sense-restraint (limit distractions), daily meditation, and self-inquiry into the ‘I’ feeling (ahaṅkāra) to reduce impulsive karma and cultivate calm, ethical living.