Shloka 6

Devanagari script

आत्मानं रथिनं विद्धि शरीरं रथमेव तु / बुद्धिं च सारथिं विद्धि मनः प्रग्रहमेव च / इन्द्रियाणि हयानाहुर्विषयास्तेषु गोचराः

Transliteration

ātmānaṃ rathinaṃ viddhi śarīraṃ rathameva tu / buddhiṃ ca sārathiṃ viddhi manaḥ pragrahameva ca / indriyāṇi hayānāhurviṣayāsteṣu gocarāḥ

Translation

Знай: Атман — всадник, а тело воистину — колесница. Знай: буддхи — возничий, а манас — поводья. Чувства называют конями, а предметы чувств — их путём и пастбищем движения.

Word by Word

• आत्मानम्: the self (as object to be identified)
• आत्मानम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; object of instruction (upameya)

• रथिनम्: the charioteer/rider (one in a chariot)
• रथिनम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; predicate-object in apposition with आत्मानम्

• विद्धि: know; understand
• विद्धि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (imperative), मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• शरीरम्: the body
• शरीरम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; object to be identified

• रथम्: the chariot
• रथम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; predicate-object for शरीरम्

• एव: indeed; just
• एव: Sambandha/Emphasis (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle of emphasis)

• तु: but; and
• तु: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात/समुच्चय-व्यतिरेक (contrastive particle)

• बुद्धिम्: intellect
• बुद्धिम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; object to be identified

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय (conjunction)

• सारथिम्: the charioteer (driver)
• सारथिम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सारथि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; predicate-object for बुद्धिम्

• विद्धि: know
• विद्धि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार, मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• मनः: mind
• मनः: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; here as object to be identified (taken as द्वितीया)

• प्रग्रहम्: the reins; control
• प्रग्रहम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; predicate-object for मनः

• एव: indeed
• एव: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphasis)

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय (conjunction)

• इन्द्रियाणि: the senses
• इन्द्रियाणि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; subject of āhuḥ

• हयान्: horses
• हयान्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; object of āhuḥ (what they are called)

• आहुः: they say; they call
• आहुः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• विषयाः: sense-objects
• विषयाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विषय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; subject (understood: are)

• तेषु: in them; among them
• तेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसक/पुं, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; locative: in/among them (the senses/horses)

• गोचराः: the range; the field of movement
• गोचराः: Karta (Subject-complement/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोचर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; predicate nominative for विषयाः

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Atman distinct from body-mind-senses; right governance of mind and intellect directs the senses.

Vedantic Theme: Drg-drsya-viveka and atma-anatma-viveka; the Self as witness/rider, instruments as upadhis.

Application: Practice daily self-inquiry: ‘I am the rider, not the chariot’; cultivate buddhi-led choices and mind-restraint to prevent sense-drag.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.44.7-10 (continuation: viveka, yoga limbs, Vishnu-pada)

FAQs

What is the importance of the chariot metaphor in the Garuda Purana?

It explains how the Self can reach a higher goal only when intellect guides and mind restrains the senses, preventing the person from being dragged by sense-objects.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It portrays the soul as the conscious rider whose journey depends on disciplined faculties—buddhi steering, mind holding the reins, and senses moving in proper bounds—supporting a life oriented to dharma and liberation.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Strengthen buddhi through study and reflection, train the mind with meditation, and regulate sensory habits (food, speech, media, pleasures) so actions align with dharma rather than impulse.