Shloka 16

Devanagari script

वासुदेवो जगद्धाता ध्येयो विष्णुर्मुमुक्षुभिः / वासुदेवो ऽहमस्मीति आत्मा ध्येयो हरिहरिः

Transliteration

vāsudevo jagaddhātā dhyeyo viṣṇurmumukṣubhiḥ / vāsudevo 'hamasmīti ātmā dhyeyo harihariḥ

Translation

Vāsudeva é o sustentador do universo; para os que buscam a libertação, Viṣṇu deve ser meditado. Medite-se o Ser com a convicção: “Eu sou Vāsudeva”—Aquele que, em essência, é Hari (Viṣṇu) e Hara (Śiva).

Word by Word

• वासुदेवः: Vāsudeva
• वासुदेवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासुदेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• जगद्धाता: supporter/creator of the world
• जगद्धाता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् + धातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (जगतः धाता)

• ध्येयः: to be meditated upon
• ध्येयः: Karya (Object of injunction/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √ध्यै (धातु) + य (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कृदन्तः—यत्/तव्यत्-अर्थे ‘ध्यानयोग्यः’ (to be meditated upon)

• विष्णुः: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• मुमुक्षुभिः: by the seekers of liberation
• मुमुक्षुभिः: Karana (Agent-instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मु + √मुच् (धातु) + सन् (इच्छार्थक) → मुमुक्षु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; सन्नन्त-धातुजन्य ‘मुमुक्षु’ (one desiring liberation)

• वासुदेवः: Vāsudeva
• वासुदेवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासुदेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अस्मि: am
• अस्मि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (Quotation marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/इत्यर्थक-अव्ययम् (quotative particle)

• आत्मा: the Self
• आत्मा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ध्येयः: to be meditated upon
• ध्येयः: Karya (Object of injunction/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √ध्यै (धातु) + य (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘ध्यानयोग्यः’

• हरिहरिः: Hari and Hari (the two Haris)
• हरिहरिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि + हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; द्वन्द्वः (हरिश्च हरिश्च)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Meditate on Viṣṇu/Vāsudeva for liberation; realize the Self through ‘Vāsudevo’ham’—a unitive contemplation affirming Hari-Hara non-difference in essence.

Vedantic Theme: Ahaṃgraha-upāsanā tending toward Advaita: identity of ātman with the supreme (interpretable as non-dual realization or highest devotional union).

Application: Daily meditation: (1) dhyāna on Vāsudeva as jagaddhātā, (2) inward inquiry ‘Who am I?’ anchored in the mahāvākya-like resolve ‘Vāsudevo’ham’, (3) cultivate non-sectarian reverence (Hari-Hara-aikya) and reduce egoic separations.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.92.12 (sarvātmā, sarvarūpa); Garuda Purana 1.92.15 (immanence in elements)

Characters & Entities

• Vasudeva
• Vishnu
• Harihara

FAQs

What is the importance of meditating on Vāsudeva in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that liberation-seekers should meditate on Vāsudeva/Viṣṇu as the cosmic sustainer, making God-remembrance the direct support for mokṣa-oriented life.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It points to inner realization rather than external travel: the soul’s freedom is linked to contemplating the Self as non-separate from the Supreme (“Vāsudevo’ham”), which cuts bondage at its root.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Adopt a daily practice of Viṣṇu-nāma/japa and self-inquiry, cultivating the steady conviction that the indwelling Self is aligned with the Divine, reducing fear, ego, and harmful actions.